Nigeria's Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealed that the automation of passport applications is on the brink of completion, with a remarkable 99% readiness. The anticipated launch is slated for the upcoming week, signaling a transformative shift in the passport application landscape.
Tunji-Ojo shared this pivotal development during an exclusive interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, highlighting the government's commitment to modernizing and simplifying bureaucratic processes. The minister emphasized, “Automation of passport applications is 99 percent done. We’ve done the testing, and we should be going live in the next week or thereabouts."
The forthcoming system promises Nigerians a hassle-free experience, allowing them to complete the majority of the application process from the comfort of their homes. Tunji-Ojo outlined the convenience, stating, "All Nigerians need to do in an immigration center—a passport center—is just biometrics, just to take your fingerprints. All other things are going to be in the comfort of your home, including uploading your passport picture and your supporting documents, just like your visa.”
This initiative aligns with the minister's earlier commitment to reforming the passport application process, aiming to eliminate the current challenges and complexities. Tunji-Ojo expressed frustration with the existing system, asserting, “You need to make life easy for people. We cannot, as a government and as a service, make things more difficult than they ought to be.
Starting from December, Nigerians can expect a seamless online application process, significantly reducing the time and effort traditionally associated with passport enrollment. The minister assured citizens that only a biometric capture would require an in-person visit, with all other details submitted through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) portal.
Tunji-Ojo vehemently emphasized the end of lengthy enrollment procedures, asserting that it is the right of Nigerians to experience a smooth and efficient process. He declared, “The era of people sacrificing a whole day just because they want to go to a passport office for enrollment is over; it is unacceptable. You cannot inconvenience people based on their rights; it is the right of the people to have a seamless experience.”
Additionally, the Minister provided an update on passport availability, stating that 204,322 international passports are now ready for collection out of a backlog of over 300,000. Despite this readiness, only 99,901 have been collected, signaling a need for increased public awareness and engagement with the streamlined application process.
