The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that the automated passport application process in Nigeria is poised to commence within the next week. In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday, the minister revealed that the technology for the automated passport application feature is at “99 per cent completion” and has successfully undergone testing.
Tunji-Ojo assured that the upcoming automated process would streamline the passport application procedure, requiring only biometric data such as fingerprints at immigration and passport centers. He stated, “In fact, we’ve done the testing and we should be going live in the next one week or thereabout. As I said, that will ensure that Nigerians, all they need to do in an immigration center, a passport center, is just biometrics, just to take your fingerprints, that’s all.”
When questioned about the possibility of completing passport applications from the comfort of their homes, Tunji-Ojo responded affirmatively, saying, “Of course!” He detailed that the automated passport application process would include the upload of passport photos and supporting documents.
The minister acknowledged a slight delay in the launch, mentioning errors discovered during a presentation two weeks ago. He expressed his commitment to ensuring a flawless system, stating, “We would have gone live about two weeks ago, but I saw some errors when they came to do a presentation, and I said, ‘You know this cannot be this.”
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that while the technological advancement aims to enhance the convenience of the passport application process for Nigerians, the Federal Government is equally committed to prioritizing national security. He explained, “We’re talking about balancing national security as well as convenience. There must be a middle point. You cannot bring discomfort on the basis of enhancement of security. You must find a meeting point of both security and comfort.”
Moreover, the minister disclosed plans to implement e-gates in all Nigerian international airports by February 2024. This development aims to facilitate smoother entry for Nigerian citizens, minimizing interaction with immigration officers unless there are specific security concerns.
