The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced that Nigerians will be able to receive their passports at their homes, offices, and other chosen locations starting from February 2024. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Week at the University of Lagos, Tunji-Ojo mentioned that the automation of the end-to-end passport application process had commenced. He explained that by January 2024, Nigerians would be able to complete the application process online, and by February, passport delivery services would be initiated.
The minister emphasized the government’s commitment to deploying technology to make the passport application process seamless. He mentioned plans to open 12 more visa application centers worldwide and strengthen the visa-on-arrival policy. Tunji-Ojo also highlighted efforts to enforce the principle of reciprocity in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Tunji-Ojo expressed concern about the duplication of identity registration, including BVN, international passport, NIN, and SIM card registration. He revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had given a directive for the harmonization of various identity numbers in the country. The minister emphasized the need to restore the integrity of travel documents through data harmonization, streamlining processes, saving costs, and enhancing the country’s security architecture.
The move towards passport delivery and the broader harmonization of identity data aligns with the government’s efforts to improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and enhance the overall experience for Nigerian citizens in obtaining travel documents.
