Nigeria’s ECOWAS ID Card implementation – A Game Changer

By Ahmad Ibrahim

ENBIC is the acronym for ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, a regional ID adopted in December, 2014, as a tool for enhancing cross border travel and economic integration among the countries that make up the West African political and economic bloc.
Since the launch, the role out of the card has not been as strong as expected but ECOWAS authorities have been pushing for its adoption as one of the ways of bringing down travel and trade barriers within the region.
The ENBIC is replacing the ECOWAS Travel Certificate which is currently in use as only a travel document that requires a resident card after ninety days stay in the  ECOWAS member countries. The ENBIC is now also inuse and serves as a travel document and as a resident card for citizens currently residing in any of the ECOWAS member States.
The implementation of the Biometric Smart Card is an ECOWAS obligation that was adopted in the year 2014 by the ECOWAS Heads of States and Governments. Senegal on the 4th October, 2016 became the first Country to start issuing the Cards followed by Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Benin, The Gambia and Sierra Leone. Despite the implementation of the ENBIC by these West African Countries, the ENBIC project has not been too successful and effective due to the absence and non – implementation of the ENBIC by Nigeria which has 60 to 70% ECOWAS Population for the past ten years.
The recent commissioning of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) at the Nigerian Immigration Service headquarters in Abuja by President Tinubu himself is a landmark occasion and welcome development. This complex named after the President comprises several critical components that includes, the Command and Control Centre for Regular Migration; the NIS Data Centre and Visa Approval Centre; the Interior Data Centre; the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) Centre and the 4.1mw Solar Farm.
The importance and benefits of the recent commissioning and implementation of the ENBIC to Nigerians, most especially Nigerians residing in these West African Countries cannot be overemphasize. It will facilitate the free trade and travel movements, residence and the right to do business in any country of the region without the risk of compromising the National security of the host country, improve migration data exchange, improve economic growth and stability and travel document harmonization.
This implementation by Nigeria will holistically boost the regional travel,  economic integration and the powering of dreams of the citizenry  of the memberCountries.

Ahmad Ibrahim writes from No 50, Lokoja/Gwari Road, Kaduna, Kaduna State.