Nigerians will soon be able to process and receive Nigerian passports from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need for physical appearances at passport processing centers. This new initiative, however, will be available only to Nigerians aged 18 and above, as well as those applying for the re-issue of expired passports. Fresh applicants will still need to visit a passport processing center to register their biometrics.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced this new strategy at a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja on Friday. The contactless passport processing project, aimed at minimizing human contact, is being jointly developed by two Nigerian firms, Irish Smart Technology and New World, which have been pilot testing the process for the past nine months.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo explained that the new technology is designed to alleviate the challenges faced by Nigerians both at home and abroad when obtaining a Nigerian passport. It also aims to protect applicants from exploitation by middlemen who create unnecessary obstacles to extract fees.
The minister detailed that the new app would address all requirements for the issuance of Nigerian passports, streamlining the process for applicants to obtain their travel documents efficiently. Starting from April next year, passport production will be centralized in Nigeria, meaning that no immigration attaché in foreign missions will be permitted to approve visa issuance.
Additionally, the minister announced that the President has approved the retention of 50% of the Nigerian Immigration Service’s (NIS) internally generated revenue, allowing the agency to manage its operations better and reduce delays in passport processing and other essential services for Nigerians.
To further enhance the operations of the NIS and strengthen national security, Dr. Tunji-Ojo mentioned that 32 forward operational bases are currently being established across the country. The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mrs. Kemi Nandep, stated that the initiative for contactless passport issuance is aimed at reducing the inconveniences associated with physical processing and enhancing the security of the Nigerian passport in line with international best practices.