Nigerians will soon be able to apply for and receive their passports from the comfort of their homes without having to visit passport processing centers, according to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
This new contactless passport processing system will be available to Nigerians aged 18 and above, and those applying for passport re-issues. However, first-time applicants will still need to visit a processing center to register their biometrics.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja on Friday, where the new system was unveiled, the minister explained that the move is part of efforts to eliminate human contact and reduce the challenges Nigerians face when applying for passports. “The new technology will make it easier and faster for Nigerians to obtain their passports without being exploited by middlemen,” he said.
The project, managed by Nigerian firms Irish Smart Technology and New World, has been in the testing phase for the past nine months. Dr. Tunji-Ojo announced that starting from April next year, all passport production will be centralized in Nigeria, meaning that no foreign immigration attaché will have the authority to approve visas.
Additionally, the minister revealed that the President has approved the retention of 50% of the internally generated revenue by the Nigerian Immigration Service to speed up passport processing and improve other services offered by the agency.
The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mrs. Kemi Nandep, stated that the introduction of the contactless passport system will not only reduce the stress of physical processing but also improve the security of Nigerian passports, aligning with international standards.
This development is expected to ease the process for millions of Nigerians at home and abroad who need to renew or obtain passports.
