Contactless passport renewal to launch in four states by January – FG

The Federal government has announced plans to launch the newly introduced contactless renewal of international passports in four Nigerian states by January next year.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking on an Arise TV program.

He stated that the system, initially planned for a December rollout, had been rescheduled to ensure a seamless launch.

According to him, the pilot phase of the project will commence in Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, and Kano.

Additionally, the service will be rolled out internationally in January to Nigerians residing in the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, and France, following its successful debut in Canada.

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Tunji-Ojo explained that the government adopted a phased rollout to test and refine the system before a nationwide implementation.

Drawing from his tech management experience, he emphasized the importance of avoiding “system shock,” which could undermine the initiative’s success.

He stated, “I come from a tech management consulting background and in my experience, you don’t launch a project of that magnitude all over at the same time.

“There will be what we call the system shock and once there’s a system shock, it erodes the benefit that you aim to derive.

“So, we decided that before we open it up to the entire world, let’s start with Canada. And as I speak to you, we’re already producing passports based on the contactless system in Canada.

“By January, we’re taking it to four countries, which include UK, United States, Italy, and France. And of course, in Nigeria, we’re opening it up in Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, and Kano.”

The Minister acknowledged initial technical hitches during the Canada launch but assured Nigerians that these issues had been resolved through system updates and continuous improvements.

He expressed confidence in the project’s long-term impact, describing it as “a legacy for this particular administration and something Nigerians can be proud of forever.”

“This is why we have adopted a cautious approach towards the project or else people will jump on it and at the end of the day, the frustration can even lead to the failure of the process,”  Tunji-Ojo added.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE