By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, Abuja
The Federal Government(FG) has established a visa approval centre in Abuja, where immigration officers work 24 hours a week to facilitate seamless visa issuance, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has announced.
The Minister made the disclosure during a media parley on Tuesday in Abuja, aimed to highlight the Ministry’s achievements over the past year and its plans for 2025.
According to Dr. Tunji-Ojo, the Visa approval centre will streamline the visa application process, ensuring that all Nigerian visas issued worldwide are approved from the centre. To enhance security, all applications will be vetted through the Interpol data system and other criminal watch lists. “We will have to do a background check on you before we can allow you to come into Nigeria,” the Minister emphasized.
In another significant development, the Minister announced that the Contactless Passport, which enables Nigerian citizens to apply for and renew their passports without visiting an immigration office, will be fully operational by March 2025.
The app, available to Nigerian citizens aged 18 and above, is designed to make passport applications more convenient and efficient.
The Minister’s announcements are part of the Federal Government’s efforts to digitize visa applications and improve service delivery. By March 1, 2025, all visa applications will be processed online, eliminating the need for physical submissions.
This move is expected to reduce corruption, enhance national security, and ensure uniformity in visa issuance.
The establishment of a centralised visa approval centre is a significant achievement for the administration, as it will stem corruption, ensure national security, and merge the visa regime to ensure uniformity.
The Minister noted that the centre will process all visa applications, ensuring that applicants are thoroughly vetted before being allowed to enter Nigeria.
To support the digitization of visa applications, the Ministry has built a harmonized data centre at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) in Abuja.
This data centre, with a capacity of 8.3 petabytes, is one of the largest in the world and will enhance data integration and monitoring.
As the Federal Government continues to push for digital transformation in immigration services, prospective applicants are advised to familiarize themselves with the online process to avoid delays and complications.
With the deadline for full digitization set for March 1, 2025, Nigerians can expect improved service delivery, enhanced border security, and a more efficient visa application process.
