In a significant announcement, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo revealed the imminent launch of Nigeria’s automated passport application process, reaching 99% completion.
Tunji-Ojo conveyed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, outlining the anticipated commencement within a week. With a slated launch date of December 2023, the minister emphasized the system’s flexibility, allowing Nigerians to upload passport photos and supporting documents conveniently from their homes.
The minister clarified, “Everything regarding pre-biometrics will be done in the comfort of your homes, including uploading passport photographs and supporting documents.”
The automated process aims to streamline operations, with applicants required to visit immigration centers solely for fingerprint biometrics capture.
Tunji-Ojo addressed the delay in the system’s go-live, citing a commitment to balancing national security and convenience. He expressed confidence in the system’s readiness after resolving issues identified during testing, affirming its impending activation within the specified timeframe.
“We gave a date — December 2023. We are 99 per cent done. In fact, we have done the testing and we should be going live in the next week or thereabouts”.
“They will have gone live about two weeks ago but I saw some errors when they came to do the presentation and I said no. We were talking about balancing national security and convenience.”
Crucially, the automation of passport applications is poised to bring about a notable reduction in bribery opportunities. As the majority of the process is shifted online, direct contact with NIS staff is minimized, potentially eliminating avenues for corrupt practices. This move aligns with broader efforts to enhance transparency within government services.
Looking ahead, Tunji-Ojo unveiled plans to implement e-gate systems at international airports nationwide by February 2024. This initiative aims to expedite the entry process for Nigerian citizens, minimizing interactions with immigration officers unless flagged as persons of interest.
“By February, all our international airports will have e-gates”.
“Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest,” he added.
The integration of automated systems not only signifies a technological advancement but also holds the promise of fostering a more accountable and corruption-resistant passport application process in Nigeria.