The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has agreed that all member states must accept the bloc’s National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) at official border crossing points across West Africa from January 1, 2027.
The commitment was contained in the Freetown Declaration adopted at the 10th Annual Meeting of ECOWAS Heads of Immigration, held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from November 3 to 4, 2026.
Under the agreement, a valid ENBIC issued by any ECOWAS member country will serve as sufficient proof of identity and Community citizenship at official border posts. The decision will apply even to countries that have not started issuing the biometric card to their own citizens.
The development is expected to make cross-border movement easier for citizens, traders and other travellers within the West African region while strengthening regional integration and the implementation of ECOWAS’ free movement protocol.
Member states are also expected to establish the necessary administrative and technical arrangements to enable immigration officers to recognise and verify biometric cards issued by other countries.
Nigeria’s Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, disclosed at the meeting that the country was implementing the biometric identity card system through its locally developed Border Control and Immigration Management System (BCIMS).
ECOWAS also called for the development of a regional verification mechanism, wider public awareness and affordable access to the identity card. Member states are expected to submit their national implementation plans to the Commission by December 2030.
The agreement marks another step towards making travel within West Africa easier and improving cooperation among immigration authorities across the region.
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