In a major move to ease the passport application process, Nigerians will soon be able to renew their passports from the comfort of their homes, thanks to a newly unveiled contactless passport processing system. Announced by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, this initiative will allow citizens aged 18 and above, as well as those renewing expired passports, to complete the entire process online without visiting passport processing centers.
While first-time applicants will still need to appear in person to register their biometrics, the new system promises to drastically reduce the long-standing delays and frustrations associated with obtaining a Nigerian passport. The contactless passport project, jointly developed by Irish Smart Technology and New World, has been in testing for the past nine months and aims to minimize human contact in order to streamline the process.
The minister emphasized that this new technology will put an end to the exploitation of applicants by middlemen who often create unnecessary hurdles to make a profit. According to Dr. Tunji-Ojo, the contactless passport processing app is designed to handle every step of the passport renewal process, ensuring that applicants receive their documents swiftly and efficiently.
In addition, starting in April 2025, all passport production will be centralized in Nigeria, and immigration attachés at foreign missions will no longer be authorized to approve visas. This is part of a broader effort to enhance the security and integrity of the Nigerian passport, aligning with international standards.
To further improve the efficiency of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the President has approved the retention of 50% of the agency’s internally generated revenue. This move is expected to reduce delays in passport processing and enhance other critical services offered by the NIS both in Nigeria and abroad. The agency is also constructing 32 forward operational bases across the country to strengthen national security and streamline its operations.
With the rollout of this new system, Nigeria aims to not only make the passport issuance process more user-friendly but also position its immigration services on par with global best practices.
