NIS Rolls Out ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card

In a bid to enhace mobility and further strengthen border security across ECOWAS sub-region, the Nigeria Immigration Service has rolled out the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, ENBIC.

At the event in Abuja, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said the launch is coming up after eleven years .

The ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card ENBIC, is rooted in the authority of ECOWAS Heads of states and Government which was decided in 1985 to advance the biometric travel identity regime established under the fundamental protocol of free movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment.

The Minister commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving a Marching order that Nigeria must play its role of leadership in ECOWAS as the most populous black nation.

“Today is about the President and I will tell you why I said this, when we launched NIMOT a couple of weeks ago,and I was asked to speak, I referred to the President as the GIFR- The Grand Innovator of the Federal Republic, this is a testament to that fact, we can see that this rollout is coming eleven years after the process started, for us in Nigeria, that is very unlike the Nigerian standard, No, the Nigerian standard is based on efficiency and timely delivery of results, that is who we are”.

While disclosing that Nigeria became the 7th ECOWAS country to launch the card the minister noted that it would help security agencies build an effective intelligence-gathering mechanism.

“With this launch, we understand the implication for our regional security, above all this is a foundation upon which our security agencies can build an effective intelligence-gathering mechanism, this is foundational because you cannot protect who you don’t know, everyday people come through the border, identification becomes a challenge and as a result of that insecurity becomes the outcome “.

“But with this, regular migration becomes an asset to us in West Africa, I have never been against migration but what I am against is irregular migration, that has to be controlled and managed and with this launch, we can now move to the next stage of making sure that, just like Ghana has done with the Ghana Card, this is integrated into the public Key Directory of ICAO”.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation , George Akume represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services , Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma said with the rollout of ENBIC, Nigeria has activated a powerful engine of regional transformation.

“The ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, ENBIC is a key that will unlock a new chapter of a secure, integrated and prosperous West Africa, directly reflecting the core principles of the administration of his Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the principles of innovation, security and inclusive economic growth “.

The representative of the President of ECOWAS and the ECOWAS commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Kalilou Sylla commended Nigerian government for taking the bold step towards building a truly integrated West Africa.

The Chief Host and the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap in a welcome address acknowledged the steadfast leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu noting that the ENBIC rollout has transitioned Nigeria to a more secure and digital country which signals a new era in regional mobility.

” This ceremony is the culmination of years of meticulous planning, policy alignment and technical collaboration across the ECOWAS community, the successful rollout of ENBIC is firmly rooted in the authority of ECOWAS Heads of states and Government, particularly Decision A/DCE/2/7/85,which advances the biometric travel identity regime established under the fundamental protocol of free movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment “.

Mrs kemi Nandap said ENBIC was developed in line with international standards and built on a globally recognised security architecture.

” The ENBIC has been developed in line with international standards including Annex 9 and chapter 3 of ICAO Documents, this ensures that the card is machine-readable, it is also embedded with advanced crypthograhic features and it is built on a globally recognised security architecture “.

Nkiru Njemanze, Edited By Grace Namiji♦