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Nigerians will soon have the convenience of processing and receiving their passports from home, as part of a new initiative announced by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. This development will initially apply to citizens aged 18 and above who are renewing expired passports. However, first-time applicants will still need to visit passport centers for biometric registration.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo shared the news at a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, where the new contactless passport processing app was unveiled. The initiative is designed to reduce the frustrations typically faced during passport application processes, particularly by eliminating the influence of middlemen who exploit applicants.
The contactless system is a collaboration between two Nigerian firms, Irish Smart Technology and New World, which have been refining the platform over the past nine months. The app will cover all necessary requirements for renewing Nigerian passports, making the process more efficient and seamless.
Additionally, the minister announced plans to centralize passport production in Nigeria starting in April next year. This will streamline visa issuance by removing the authority of immigration attachés in foreign missions to approve visas. The move is part of a broader effort to improve operational efficiency within the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
Dr. Tunji-Ojo also revealed that the President has approved the retention of 50% of the NIS’s internally generated revenue. This financial boost is expected to enhance the service’s operations and reduce delays in passport issuance.
In another security-focused initiative, the government is constructing 32 forward operational bases to bolster the NIS’s ability to safeguard national borders. The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mrs. Kemi Nandap, highlighted that the new contactless system will not only ease the application process but also align with international standards to enhance the security of Nigerian passports.
