The newly launched ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) will simplify cross-border travel, strengthen identity management and support trade and integration among West African countries, stakeholders have said.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), ECOWAS Commission and other stakeholders made this known at a media sensitisation workshop held in Lagos on Thursday.

The biometric card, which costs N35,000, is expected to facilitate the free and secure movement of ECOWAS citizens while supporting their right to reside in member states in line with regional protocols.

The initiative is also designed to advance the objectives of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and Nigeria’s efforts to improve migration governance and regional cooperation.

Speaking at the workshop, ECOWAS Director of Free Movement of Persons, Migration and Tourism, Obinna Ajugwo, described the ENBIC as a key component of the region’s integration agenda.

Ajugwo said the card would provide a harmonised identification system capable of facilitating free movement, improving border management, strengthening security cooperation and promoting economic and social integration.

He, however, stressed that the success of the initiative would depend not only on technology and policy but also on public trust and access to accurate information.

He urged the media to intensify public education on the card, noting that journalists play an important role in helping citizens understand the initiative and countering misinformation.

The Head of IOM Sub-office in Lagos, Ali Ali Ibrahim, said the ENBIC aligns with regional and international efforts to improve identity systems, regular migration pathways, border management and cooperation.

Ibrahim said the initiative would enhance identity assurance and make legitimate travel across the region more efficient and secure.

He added that its success should be measured not only by the number of cards issued but also by its contribution to safer mobility, regional integration, economic opportunities and improved experiences for people travelling across ECOWAS borders.

Also speaking, Assistant Comptroller General of NIS in charge of Passports and Other Travel Documents, ACG T. O. Olaiya, described the deployment of the ENBIC as a major development in regional integration.

Olaiya said the card was designed to enable seamless movement across West Africa while allowing the NIS to maintain effective border security.

She urged the media to provide accurate information about the card, its eligibility requirements and how it can facilitate cross-border travel.