The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that home delivery of passports will commence in June 2024, eliminating the need for Nigerians to travel to immigration offices to obtain their passports.
This new service was confirmed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during an inspection of the electronic gates at the new terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Friday, May 24, 2024.
Minister Tunji-Ojo explained that the home delivery service will initially be available in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Abuja to prevent overloading the system and ensure a smooth implementation. For Nigerians living abroad, the service will first be offered in the United States and the United Kingdom, following preliminary testing to ensure its effectiveness.
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The minister acknowledged missing the original plan, which was to start home delivery in February 2024, but disclosed that this was delayed due to challenges related to data center availability. He revealed that the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) had been relying on a private company’s data center, which was not a sustainable solution.
“We have completed the whole solution but when we came on board, we realized that the data center was not really there. We were leveraging on a private company’s data center and we appreciate them for that assistance. We think that it is better to create a permanent solution to problems rather than quick fixes,” said Tunji-Ojo.
He stressed the importance of having a dedicated data center for the NIS to maintain the integrity and security of national data.
“It is disgraceful that NIS is 61 years old and NIS is a custodian of biometric data of Nigeria and we believe that NIS should be in charge of the data of Nigeria. It is not acceptable that this data is domiciled in a third party and that is why we have been able to do this,’’ he added.
Minister Tunji-Ojo announced that the construction of the new data center has been completed, resolving the issues that delayed the home delivery service.
“It is about national security and I can assure you that it is comparable with anyone you can find anywhere in the world. We have built the data center, sorted the passport delivery solution, and done the final presentation in terms of technology deliverables and the tracking solution which will all be embedded in the application we have so we do not create multiple lines of failure,’’ he stated.
In addition to passport delivery, the minister mentioned that the final presentation of the electronic visa has been completed. This will reduce the processing time for visas from 72 hours to 48 hours, further modernizing the services provided by the Ministry of Interior.
This initiative is part of the Nigerian government’s broader efforts to modernize administrative processes and enhance service delivery to its citizens. In October 2023, Tunji-Ojo announced a plan to have passports delivered to homes, offices, or any other preferred locations, indicating a significant shift towards automation and improved user experience for passport applicants.
The automation and home delivery of passports aim to streamline the application process, reduce the burden on immigration offices, and improve convenience for Nigerians.
“By January next year, Nigerians will be able to complete this application process online, and by February next year, with collaboration and partnership with other relevant stakeholders, Nigerians will have their passports delivered to their homes, offices, and other locations of their choice,” he said.
As this new service rolls out, it is expected to bring significant relief and convenience to many Nigerians, both within the country and abroad, marking a major milestone in the government’s efforts to enhance administrative efficiency and citizen satisfaction.