New Nigerian passport application plan to be launched in March allowing process to be completed within 10 minutes

INTERIOR minister Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has unveiled details of the government's new contactless passport application process that will enable applicants to complete the entire process online within 10 minutes.

Speaking yesterday at the inaugural 2024 Diaspora Webinar Lecture Series of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (Nidcom) titled New Passport Policy/Processes for Nigerians in the Diaspora, the minister said this government aims to deliver a seamless and efficient passport experience for Nigerians within the country and those in the diaspora. He added that this was the directive from President Bola Tinubu to him and other cabinet ministers as part of the government's renewed hope policy.

Dr Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of providing top-notch services befitting Nigeria's stature as the giant of Africa. He pointed out that as from March 8, Nigerians will benefit from a contactless passport application process, reducing the time required to complete the entire process to a maximum of seven to 10 minutes.

According to the minister, this reform is part of the overarching efforts to modernise the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and enhance service delivery to citizens. He pointed to the clearance of over 200,000 passport backlogs within three weeks of his assumption of office and the deployment of E-Gates at international airports to streamline entry and exit processes.

At the webinar, the minister also outlined plans for the installation of a modern control centre across international airports in Abuja and Lagos, aimed at enhancing immigration officers' capacity and providing Nigerians with a seamless travel experience. He stressed on the importance of leveraging on technology to simplify passport acquisition, stating that moving forward, Nigerians will only need their National Identification Number (NIN) for passport applications and bio metrics.

Dr Tunji-Ojo said: "Through an automated system, data will be pulled from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database to fill application forms, reducing the risk of identity fraud and ensuring a single point of contact for citizens."

He added that plans are underway to automate the passport enrolment process, enabling online applications, biometric capture and home delivery of passports, thus  eliminating the need for physical visits to passport offices. Also, the minister urged Nigerians to take pride in acquiring their passports, as the new process heralds a new era of hope and progress for the nation and its diaspora community.

In her presentation,  Caroline Wuraola Adepoju, the comptroller-general of the Nigerian Immigration Service, emphasised that the new process would significantly reduce human interaction, thereby eliminating inconveniences associated with passport applications and saving time for both applicants and immigration personnel.

She said the service produced  1,033,506 passports in 2021, another 1,597,729 in 2022, while in 2023 over a record 2,141,300 were produced amidst various challenges. Ms Adepoju, however, said that many Nigerians did not come forward to pick up their passports at various centres she visited recently both within and outside Nigeria.

Nidcom chair, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, commended the minister's efforts, highlighting the significance of the diaspora lecture series in keeping Nigerians abroad informed about  programmes and reforms of President Tinubu's administration. This was Nidcom's first diaspora  virtual lecture in 2024.