The Federal Government has introduced the Contactless Passport Renewal System across Europe, bringing Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) services closer to Nigerians in the diaspora.
Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who launched the initiative last week, said it followed the successful implementation of the scheme in Canada.
Describing the development as a major step in service delivery under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the minister said eligible Nigerians in Canada and Europe can now renew their passports entirely online from the comfort of their homes and offices.
Celebrating the new era, Tunji-Ojo said, “This innovative system is designed to eliminate the traditional hurdles associated with passport renewals”.
“Today marks yet another pivotal moment in our commitment to streamline and enhance the efficiency of government services for Nigerians both at home and abroad in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of this administration”, he announced.
“This initiative not only reduces the inconvenience of travel and long waiting times but also brings the services of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) directly to your digital doorstep.
“The introduction of this system in Europe further underscores our dedication to:
Efficiency: By allowing passport renewals to be conducted without physical presence. This helps us cut down processing times significantly.
“Accessibility: Ensuring that Nigerians in the diaspora experience government services with ease, regardless of their location.
“Modernization: Embracing technology to meet the contemporary needs of our citizens in line with our pledge to digital transformation of the country as we race towards achieving the 1-trillion dollar economy ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).
“The Nigerian diaspora is an integral part of our national fabric, which contributes immensely to our development. Hence, it is our duty to ensure they have access to services that match the highest standards of professionalism and efficiency.
“As a government, we will continue to uphold transparency without compromising security in all our operations. This launch is only the beginning; we are poised to expand these reforms by bringing government services closer to all Nigerians.
“We look forward to a future where every Nigerian, whether at home or abroad, benefits from our efforts to modernize and humanize government services”.