FG To Fully Digitise Visa Applications March 1
The Federal Government has announced that all visa applications will be processed exclusively online by March 1, 2025, as part of efforts to streamline procedures, enhance national security, and combat corruption.
The Interior Minister, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known on Monday during a virtual session on ‘X Spaces,’ hosted by social media influencer Dr. Segun Awosanya.
According to Tunji-Ojo, the establishment of a centralised visa approval centre is a significant achievement for the current administration.
The new system, he said, will ensure uniformity across the visa regime and reduce the risk of corrupt practices.
“The visa approval center is also an achievement for this administration because we now have a centralised visa approval system. This will stem corruption, ensure national security, and merge the visa regime to ensure uniformity. Before March 1st, all visa application systems will be online to ensure proper vetting,” he stated.
The minister noted the existence of a harmonised data centre at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC), located at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Sauka, Abuja.
According to him, the the government has successfully built an 8.3-petabyte data centre, a major upgrade from the initially planned 1.4-petabyte capacity.
The facility, he noted, is one of the largest of its kind in the world and addresses previous issues related to data management within the NIS.
“We inherited a Nigeria Immigration Service that had no data center, where citizens’ data were stored in private capacities with various contractors, which was a gross violation of the Data Protection Act. Nigeria cannot proliferate the issuance of its security documents without due process. We promised a 1.4-petabyte data center but delivered an 8.3-petabyte facility. one of the largest in the world,” he explained.
The minister reassured Nigerians that the new initiatives will improve service delivery, enhance border security, and position the country for greater digital transformation in immigration services.
However, with the deadline for full digitisation set for March 1, prospective applicants are urged to familiarise themselves with the online process to avoid delays and complications.
FG To Fully Digitise Visa Applications March 1 is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
