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 90 days stay in the ECOWAS member countries while the ENBIC is now in use and will also serve 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 State and Government. Senegal on October 4, 2016 became the first to start issuing the cards, followed by Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Benin, The Gambia and Sierra Leone.
Despite the implementation of the ENBIC by these countries, the ENBIC project has not been too successful and effective due to its non-implementation in Nigeria which has 60 to 70% ECOWAS population. Unfortunately, for the past 10 years, Nigeria which is seen as the giant of Africa was not able to implement the ENBIC project until now after six countries have fully deployed the ENBIC as at June, 2024.
The recent commissioning of the state-of-the-art Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) at the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja by the president is a welcome development. The edifice is more than a building, it is rather a bold step in modernising immigration infrastructure and a powerful tool in the efforts to safeguard the nation’s borders, manage migration effectively, enhance national security and foster stronger ties within the ECOWAS region.
This multifaceted complex comprises several critical components that include: Command and Control Centre for Regular Migration; NIS Data and Visa Approval Centre; the Interior Data Centre; ENBIC Centre and the 4.1mw Solar Farm.
The benefits of the ENBIC to Nigerians include, among others, the facilitation of free trade and travel movements, residence and the right to do business in any country of the region without the risk of compromising the security of the host country, improve migration data exchange, improve economic growth and stability and travel document harmonisation.
This implementation by Nigeria will boost the regional travel and economic integration among the ECOWAS member countries.
