Through the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Government has launched the National Biometric Card (ENBIC).
The move will help bolster “regional mobility and integration, improve identity management, and strengthen border security”.
This was made known by the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
The card, which is “biometric and cryptographic” will take the place of the ECOWAS travel certificate, which is “paper-based”.
The Agency said, the launch of the ENBIC confirms the commitment of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to making sure Nigeria’s Immigration system is modernized to meet global standards, as well as, ensuring movement and migration around West Africa is “safe and secure”.
According to the NOA: “The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Immigration Service, has launched the National Biometric Card (ENBIC) to enhance regional mobility and integration, improve identity management, and strengthen border security.
“The biometric and cryptographic card replaces the paper-based Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) travel certificate that has been in use for travel for decades by ECOWAS citizens within the region.
“The launch of the ENBIC affirms the commitment of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to modernising immigration systems in Nigeria to meet global standards and ensure the safety and security of movement and migration across West Africa.
“This secured, biometric-enabled card will revolutionise travel across West Africa, while promoting economic growth and renewing the fight against trans-border crimes and irregular migration.”
