The Nigerian Federal Government has unveiled a contactless passport renewal solution created by two Nigerian software companies to aid the renewal process for Nigerians in the diaspora. The system rolled out in Canada on November 1st, 2024, enables applicants who qualify to renew their passports through the Internet without having to report to an immigration office
Discussing the system’s rollout on the Politics Today program with Channels Television, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior of Nigeria, stated that the government has decided to deploy the facility due to indigenous technology. “We did not go to look for foreign technology,” he said. “We got Nigerian technology – the two companies/vendors that came together to develop the solution are Nigerian software companies.”
The contactless renewal system utilizes biometric databases, facial recognition, and real-time authentication to confirm applicants’ identities. Tunji-Ojo underlined that this offered solution eliminates the problems associated with distance traveling for many Nigerian citizens on foreign soil when they wish to renew their passports. For now, the service is available to Nigerians over 18 with existing biometric records, while first-time applicants still need to visit the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) office for an interview and biometric capture.
While some applicants have reported minor delays, the minister clarified that these are due to processing capacity constraints at Nigerian embassies, rather than the system itself. For instance, the UK embassy has a backlog of over 48,000 applications, despite only being able to process 300 daily. To help alleviate such bottlenecks, the government is establishing a centralized personalization center in Abuja, which is expected to print up to 32,000 passports per day once operational.
Expansion plans are already underway, with the contactless renewal system set to roll out in the UK, USA, and Italy on November 15, and to additional countries, including Nigeria, by December 1. The NIS portal and mobile app facilitate the renewal process, where applicants can create a profile, complete eligibility checks, upload documents, and make payments. Completed passports are then delivered directly to the applicants.
Since the launch, several Nigerians in Canada have used the service, and the government is working to ensure that any initial glitches are resolved. This is to affirm their commitment to improving passport access for Nigerians worldwide.
