The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has officially confirmed that the automation process for passport applications will commence operations on January 8, 2024.
The announcement comes after the minister revealed in December that the Federal Government was diligently working towards a comprehensive automation system for passport applications in the country.
Govima had earlier repoted that Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, criticizes the arduous process faced by married Nigerian women, particularly the need to travel to Abuja for passport data changes.
The minister assured the public that the automated application system is now 99% complete, incorporating features such as the uploading of passport photos and supporting documents. During an inspection of the Nigeria Immigration Service facilities in Abuja on Monday, alongside Comptroller General Wura-Ola Adepoju, Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed that Nigerians would be able to apply for and complete their passport application process entirely online, eliminating the need for human contact.
The minister highlighted that the Ministry of Interior has initiated the training process leading to the live launch of the automation on January 8. Tunji-Ojo expressed confidence that the implementation of this initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope of President Muhammadu Buhari and emphasized the ministry’s commitment to minimizing human contact in the passport acquisition process.
“We are good to go live. We are starting the training, and on January 8, the solution will be live and direct for Nigerians to have a good feel, a sweet experience,” stated the minister.
He emphasized that the initiative aims to significantly reduce human contact in passport acquisition, ultimately enhancing the security architecture of the country. The automated system is expected to facilitate quick detection of fake passport applications while streamlining the overall application process for citizens.
