The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has expressed support for a roll-out of the National Biometric ID cards by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission.The IOM has a European Union (EU)-funded project "Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa (FMM West Africa), which is relevant to the launch.The cards were launched in Niamey, Niger at an ECOWAS Heads of Immigration meeting.The two-day meeting will address high mobility from and within West Africa, where intra-regional and irregular migration feature prominently in the political agendas of most West African governments.FMM West Africa Programme Coordinator ad interim Kristiina Lilleorg, said: "This meeting presents an opportunity to discuss the response to the opportunities and challenges related to migration and mobility."Migration is a shared responsibility of countries of origin, transit and destination. By weighing the modalities of member state-level roll-out of the Biometric ID card, ECOWAS Heads of Immigration and partners will promote safe and facilitated regional cross-border travel of ECOWAS citizens. Further, the meeting will hear various options and propose concrete joint initiatives, including a Task Force, to combat irregular migration, fight trafficking and smuggling, and protect vulnerable migrants in the region."
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