The Federal Government has disclosed that Nigeria will roll out enhanced e-passport facilities at selected Nigerian embassies in Europe to position the country as a leader in technological innovation within the African continent
The Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this in his keynote speech at the Diaspora quarterly meeting (virtual) lecture series in Abuja organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).
The minister said, the enhanced e-passport, compliant with all International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, ensures international recognition and security.
Speaking further, he said, it offers Nigerians in the diaspora greater convenience with online application and payment platforms, reduced processing times, and enhanced security features, allowing for travel with peace of mind.
“The launch of our automated passport application process for those in the diaspora is scheduled for March 8, 2024, starting with a minimum of four missions.”
“Italy in Europe, Canada in the Americas, South Africa in Africa, and Malaysia in Asia. Following a month of refining any glitches, we aim to deploy globally by April 8, 2024.,” he added
Tunji-Ojo also assured that gone are the days when Nigerians had to endure the inconvenience of travelling to process their passports as he called upon diasporans’ active participation in the transformative process
“Utilise the online application and payment platform, Ensure synchronization of your passport application data with your NIN, Provide accurate and complete information, and Report any irregularities or concerns to the designated authorities,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo also disclosed that e-gates have been successfully installed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with an additional 16 E-gates anticipated for delivery and installation in Lagos next week.
“In line with our March deadline, we are diligently working towards establishing a modern control centre across all our international airports, including Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu.
“This initiative is poised to enhance the capacity of our immigration officers, facilitating pre-profiling and ensuring a seamless and pleasant experience for Nigerians returning to Nigeria.
“It is imperative to note that there is no need for Nigerians to interface with an officer unless they are individuals of interest. With the deployment of e-Gates in all our international airports, we guarantee a seamless experience befitting the stature of Nigeria as the giant of Africa.
“Additionally, we have successfully harmonized identity data, eliminating duplication and enhancing security. From this new passport acquisition system, a robust handshake between the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) ensures that Nigerians no longer need to re-enter details; a simple input of their NIN auto-fills their application form.
“Our commitment to a streamlined and efficient process extends to automating the passport enrollment process. The previous average expenditure of 200 naira on archiving documents for a single application has been significantly reduced, resulting in substantial cost savings for the government.
“Concurrently, the ministry has taken bold steps towards the launch of a new passport policy for Nigerians at home and abroad.
“This initiative aims to decongest existing centres by establishing dedicated passport processing and collection centres in the diaspora, fast-tracking service operations both domestically and internationally, and reducing processing delays in Europe through the enhanced e-passport,” he added.
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