THE Federal Government has revealed that the automation of the passport application process will commence from January 8.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who gave this hint during inspection of facilities at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters, Abuja, said Nigerians will be able to apply and complete their passport application process online without human contact.
“We are good to go live,” Tunji-Ojo said on Monday in Abuja during an inspection of facilities of NIS alongside the Comptroller General (CG) of the Service, Wura-Ola Adepoju
“We are starting the training on January 8, the solution will be live and direct for Nigerians to have a good feel, a sweet experience based on the Renewed Hope of Mr President
“We have been able to reduce human contact in passport acquisition to the minimum,” the minister said. He added that the initiative would enhance the security architecture of the country as well as the comfort and convenience of Nigerians.
Tunji-Ojo said the desire of government was to bring an end to the era of people bringing fake documents for passport applications, even as he announced that the Service now has document verification officers across all local government areas in the country to scrutinise passport applications in the country.
Recall that the minister had on October 4, 2023 directed the NIS and its partners to upgrade their systems in order to improve their services, adding there was the need to automate the passport application processes in line with the global best practices.
He had threatened to terminate contract of the service provider if it fails to activate the contract agreement, including the aspect of the Advanced Passenger Information Service, which Tunji-Ojo said would help in profiling those coming into the country per time and as such help in border security.
He added that the ministry has given the service provider up to this month to ensure this come on board especially now that the country is being confronted with security challenges.
“The efficiency of NIS will not be sacrificed for any other interest apart from the interest of Nigerians and all the ministry contractors who fail to activate their contract agreements will be shown the way out
“People will be able to upload their passport and supporting documents online. Only biometrics will be taken at the passport office.
“We are introducing passport front offices where people can go and process their passport close to where they reside. Solution providers have been given three months to activate this or their contract will be revoked,” the minister said.
The minister said another reform coming on board is passport tracking, where applicant with his or her phone should be able to track the processing of their passports after application to the date of issuance.
He said these measures would help to speed up the passport application process.
