The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has confirmed that the automation process for passport applications will commence operation on January 8, 2024. The minister had previously announced in December that the Federal Government was working towards implementing a fully automated system for passport applications in the country.
During the inspection of facilities at the Nigeria Immigration Service in Abuja, alongside the Comptroller General of the Service, Wura-Ola Adepoju, Tunji-Ojo confirmed that Nigerians would be able to apply for and complete their passport application process online without human contact.
The minister stated that the training process has begun, leading to the live launch of the automation on January 8. He emphasized that the initiative aims to minimize human contact in passport acquisition, providing a smoother experience for Nigerians. Additionally, the automated system is expected to enhance the country’s security architecture, facilitating the quick detection of fake passport applications and reducing bottlenecks in the process.