The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has affirmed that the automated process for passport applications will commence operation on January 8, 2024. He stated that Nigerians will now have the convenience of applying for and completing their passport applications online without the need for direct human interaction.
Tunji-Ojo made this announcement during an inspection of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) facilities in Abuja, alongside the Comptroller General, Wura-Ola Adepoju, on Monday.
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The Minister mentioned that the ministry has initiated the training process, leading to the official launch of the automation. He expressed confidence in the readiness of the system, stating, “We are good to go live. We are starting the training, and on January 8, the solution will be live for Nigerians to experience a seamless process, in line with the Renewed Hope of Mr. President. We have significantly minimized human contact in the passport acquisition process.”
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Tunji-Ojo highlighted that the initiative would enhance the country’s security infrastructure, facilitating the prompt detection of fraudulent passport applications and reducing bureaucratic obstacles. He underscored the government’s dedication to eradicating the use of counterfeit documents in passport applications, revealing plans to deploy document verification officers in every local government area for thorough scrutiny of passport applications nationwide.
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Providing context, it’s worth noting that last month, Minister Tunji-Ojo announced the federal government’s commitment to achieving a fully automated passport application system. At that time, he indicated that the automated application system was nearly complete, with testing done and expected to go live within the next week. The system would involve the uploading of passport photos and supporting documents, streamlining the process to require only biometrics at immigration and passport centres.
