Nigerians can look forward to the convenience of having their passports delivered to their homes, offices, or other chosen locations starting from February 2024, according to Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior. Speaking at the University Of Lagos during the opening ceremony of the International Week, themed “Breaking the Borders of Partnership,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo outlined the government’s plans to streamline the passport application process and enhance service delivery.
The Minister disclosed that by January of the coming year, Nigerians will be able to complete their passport applications online, marking a significant step toward modernizing the passport issuance system. Furthermore, the government is actively collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure that, by February 2024, passport delivery services will be available to citizens at their chosen locations.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo emphasized that this effort is driven by the government’s commitment to make the passport application process quicker and more efficient. Under this initiative, waiting times for passport issuance will be reduced to a maximum of two weeks.
In addition to these improvements, the Ministry of Interior is expanding its global reach by opening 12 more visa application centers worldwide. The aim is to make the visa application process equally seamless and accessible to Nigerians. The government is also working on strengthening its visa-on-arrival policy and enforcing reciprocity principles in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo pointed out the issue of identity number duplication in the country, including Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), international passports, National Identification Numbers (NINs), and SIM card registrations by telecom companies. To address this challenge, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a directive to harmonize these various identity numbers, streamlining data and reducing redundancy.
The Minister emphasized that identity is a fundamental aspect of individuals’ lives and stated that harmonizing the country’s database will improve efficiency, reduce costs, and optimize security measures. This move aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on improving the nation’s data management and security infrastructure.
As the government works towards modernizing passport and visa services and enhancing data management, Nigerians can anticipate a more convenient and efficient experience when applying for essential documents and services.