The Federal Government (FG) has announced the introduction of the Contactless Passport Renewal System across Europe following its implementation in Canada.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who disclosed this in a statement on Friday noted that Nigerians in Europe can now renew their passports digitally.
“We are pleased to announce a significant advancement in our national service delivery under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, launching the Contactless Passport Renewal System across Europe, after its successful implementation in Canada.
“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.
“As with the case in Canada, this innovative system is designed to eliminate the traditional hurdles associated with passport renewals. Now, eligible Nigerians in Europe can renew their passports entirely online from the comfort of their homes and offices,” Mr. Tunji-Ojo stated.
He explained that the initiative will not only reduce the inconvenience of travel and long waiting times, but also brings the services of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) directly to “your digital doorstep”.
He said that the introduction of this system in Europe further underscores the ministry’s dedication to efficiency, accessibility, and modernisation.
On efficiency, the Minister described it as allowing passport renewals to be conducted without physical presence, stressing that “this helps us cut down processing times significantly.”
He pointed out that accessibility will ensure that Nigerians in the diaspora experience government services with ease, regardless of their location.
However, he said that modernisation will help to embrace technology to meet the contemporary needs of Nigerians in line with the ministry’s pledge to digital transformation of the country as “we race towards achieving the 1-trillion dollar economy ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).”
Minister Tunji-Ojo emphasised that the Nigerian diaspora is an integral part of the national fabric, which contributes immensely to Nigeria’s development. Hence, it is the ministry’s duty to ensure they have access to services that match the highest standards of professionalism and efficiency.
He added: “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.”
