The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is introducing a regional biometric identity card to facilitate cross-border travel, enhance identity verification, and improve border security. Seven member states—Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone—have already deployed the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC). The bloc aims for mutual acceptance of the card at air, land, and sea borders by December, though implementation remains uneven. The initiative is intended to replace the handwritten ECOWAS Travel Certificate and provide immigration authorities with a harmonized method to authenticate travelers as cross-border movement, trade, and regional integration expand. Speaking at the ENBIC Media Sensitisation Workshop in Lagos, Obinna Ajugwo, Head of Border Management at the ECOWAS Commission, said the biometric card was designed to address challenges associated with identity management and cross-border security.
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