FG approves ECOWAS identity card for Nigerians

The Federal Government has approved the production of Identity card of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for Nigerians.

The Minister of Interior, retired Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau announced this at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja. 

Abdulrahman Dambazau, Minister of Interior

He said this followed approval of the committee of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS that the Identity Card should be produced for all its member countries.

He said: “I presented a memo on the production of ECOWAS biometric identity card.

“This is in response to the decision of the committee of Heads of State and Government, taken sometime in 2014, to replace the current ECOWAS travel certificate. This was to take effect in January 2016.

“The project is to cost about N14.7billion and this is a contractor financed project and what that means is that the service provider is to use his funds to finance the project.

“The contract will be for a period of 10 years and within those 10 years, it is expected that about 13 million cards would be produced.”

According to him, it is hoped that the new identity card will help to enhance security at all Nigerian borders.

“Currently the ECOWAS travel certificate in use does not have biometric features and so it is subject to abuse and can be produced anywhere without room for checking the background of the holder.

“But the new identity card carries the photographs, fingerprints and other details of the card which can be checked instantly.

“It will reduce the time spent at entry points and it will also help the Interpol identify persons involved in cross-border criminal activities,” Dambazau said.