ECOWAS biometric card: officials explain travel rules for Nigerians

Nigerians planning trips within West Africa should confirm which travel documents their destination accepts as ECOWAS countries work towards wider use of the bloc’s biometric identity card.

Officials explained the travel rules at a media sensitisation workshop in Lagos on Wednesday, organised by the International Organisation for Migration in collaboration with ECOWAS and with European Union support.

Nigeria began rolling out the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card through the Nigeria Immigration Service in November 2025, Premium Times reported.

Obinna Ajugwo, an ECOWAS border-management official, said seven member states had deployed the card: Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Benin, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Member states have committed to working towards mutual acceptance at air, land and sea borders by December. That target does not mean every border already accepts it.

What the card does — and does not do

The card contains a chip holding identity information that immigration officers can authenticate electronically. Officials say this could make identity checks more secure and reduce delays at border posts.

It does not grant automatic residence rights. Under the ECOWAS free-movement protocol, citizens of member states can enter another member country without a visa and stay for up to 90 days, subject to the protocol’s conditions. Anyone staying longer must meet the host country’s residence requirements.

Before applying or travelling

Nigerians can begin applications through the NIS online portal, with verification and biometric enrolment forming part of the process. Applicants should confirm the current fees and required documents with the NIS before applying.

The biometric card is intended to replace the handwritten ECOWAS Travel Certificate, but countries are at different stages of implementation. Travellers should check with the NIS which document is accepted for their particular journey rather than assume the new card is already sufficient everywhere.

Source: Premium Times