'We are 99% done' - FG announces upgrade to international airports, gives implementation date

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, has said that the automation of Nigeria's passport application is set for completion.

In an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today, the minister said that the automated application would be finally completed in a week, and Nigeria's international airports would be upgraded.

International airports upgrade with e-gate system

During the interview, the minister disclosed that by the first quarter of next year, some upgrades will be installed at international airports in Nigeria.

He said that by February 2024, the e-gate systems would be installed at international airports in the country.

He said: By February, all our international airports will have e-gates. Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest.

Passport automation to be ready soon

The automation means that soon, Nigerians will no longer have a reason to visit immigration centres except for fingerprint biometrics for their passports.

The minister said that the development would allow Nigerians to upload their passport photographs and other supporting documents from the comfort of their homes.

He said: “We gave a date — December 2023. We have done the testing and we should be going live in the next week or thereabouts.

“This will ensure that what Nigerians need to do at an immigration centre is just fingerprint biometrics.

“Everything regarding pre-biometrics will be done in the comfort of your homes, including uploading passport photographs and supporting documents.

This comes as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recently warned Nigerians against paying agents to obtain passports.