The media has been urged to intensify public awareness of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC).
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) made the call during the week at a media sensitisation workshop on ENBIC held in Lagos.
The organisations said accurate and timely information was critical to ensuring public understanding and the successful implementation of the regional identity initiative.
ENBIC is a secure digital travel credential designed to replace the paper-based ECOWAS travel certificate and facilitate safer, more secure and predictable movement of people across West Africa.
The biometric identity system is also expected to strengthen regional integration and support the implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment.
The workshop brought together officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), ECOWAS institutions, development partners and media professionals to deepen understanding of the card, its implementation process and the responsibilities of relevant institutions.
Speaking at the event, Ali Ibrahim, IOM Head of Suboffice, Lagos, commended Nigeria for the successful inauguration of ENBIC in 2025, describing it as an important milestone in the implementation of regional integration instruments.
Ibrahim said the initiative was consistent with efforts to promote safe, orderly and regular migration across West Africa.
He added that ENBIC supported the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, particularly through stronger identity management systems, improved regular migration pathways, enhanced border governance and increased cooperation among countries.
The IOM official commended the ECOWAS Commission for its coordination role in assisting member states to implement the initiative.
He said IOM would continue supporting ECOWAS and member states through the Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa Phase II (FMM II) Project.
‘As the lead implementing partner of the project, our support would include technical assistance, capacity development, operational guidance, knowledge sharing and implementation support,’ he said.
According to Ibrahim, the support is aimed at developing border-management systems capable of facilitating legitimate movement while strengthening security, protection and public confidence.
He noted that ENBIC could help achieve the balance by strengthening identity assurance and enabling border authorities to process legitimate travellers more efficiently.
Ibrahim particularly stressed the importance of the media in explaining the objectives, benefits and practical implications of ENBIC to citizens.
He described journalists as a critical link between regional institutions, national authorities and the public, especially amid the rapid spread of misinformation through traditional and digital platforms.
He urged media practitioners to provide accurate, balanced and informed reports on the biometric identity card, including its implications for citizens exercising their right to free movement within the region.
The IOM official also called for media coverage that explains both the opportunities created by ECOWAS free movement and measures being introduced to strengthen border governance, security and protection.
The sensitisation workshop was therefore aimed at equipping journalists with the information needed to effectively report on ENBIC and contribute to greater public understanding of the regional initiative.