By Abbanobi-Eku Onyeka
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, has led Nigeria’s delegation to the 10th Annual Heads of Immigration Forum of the Migration Dialogue for West Africa (MIDWA) in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where immigration chiefs from ECOWAS member states signed a declaration towards the take-off of regional free movement arrangements in 2027.
The forum, held from November 3 to 4, 2026, brought together Heads of Immigration from 12 ECOWAS member states, representatives of the ECOWAS Commission and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Themed, “From Policy to Practice: Deepening Regional Integration through Harmonized Migration and Border Management in ECOWAS,” the meeting focused on strengthening regional cooperation, migration governance and integrated border management.
According to a statement signed by the NIS Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, the participants deliberated on implementing the ECOWAS Free Movement and Trade Protocols, particularly through an Integrated Border Management (IBM) system and the effective deployment of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC).
Speaking at the forum, Nandap reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional cooperation through ongoing reforms by the NIS to strengthen regional integration in line with ECOWAS free movement protocols.
She highlighted Nigeria’s progress in implementing the ENBIC through its locally developed Border Control and Immigration Management System (BCIMS), which provides integrated functionality for border operations, migration management and data administration.
The Comptroller-General disclosed that mobile verification tools connected to the BCIMS were being deployed at border crossing points, while the issuance of the biometric identity card to Nigerians in the diaspora was also underway.
She stressed the need to balance migration facilitation with security, noting that effective security management remained fundamental to sustainable national and regional prosperity.
The forum also reviewed recommendations from reports presented by the Ministers of Interior and MIDWA Thematic Working Groups.
During the deliberations, Heads of Immigration exchanged experiences on their respective countries’ progress in implementing the ENBIC and identified common challenges, particularly the absence of uniform acceptance of the card across some ECOWAS member states.
The meeting underscored the importance of harmonising migration and border management systems to translate regional policy commitments into practical arrangements that facilitate the movement of people and trade across West Africa.
