The commencement of the automated passport application process is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 8, 2024, as announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The minister had said in December that the Federal Government was working to ensure a full automation system of passport application in the country.
Ojo while inspecting facilities of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Abuja, alongside the Comptroller General of the Service, Wura-Ola Adepoju, on Monday, confirmed that Nigerians will be able to apply and complete their passport application process online without human contact.
He said, “We are good to go live. We are starting the training and 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.”
“This is coming ahead of the automation of the passport application process, which will begin on January 8, 2024, when Nigerians will be able to apply and complete their passport application process online without human contact.”
He said when fully automated, Nigerians would only go to immigration centres for fingerprint or biometric purposes.
He went on to say that the project will strengthen the nation’s security framework, enabling the early identification of fraudulent passport applications and eliminating bottlenecks.
Ugochi Olivia Ubah is an Educator and a Writer