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FRSC introduces contactless driver’s licence system

FRSC Drivers licence

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has unveiled a contactless biometric capture system for the issuance of driver’s licences, marking a major leap toward digitalisation in Nigeria’s motor vehicle administration.

The announcement coincided with the launch of the 2025 Ember Months Road Safety Campaign, themed “Tech Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.” The campaign, unveiled on Monday in Abuja, targets reckless and distracted driving, which often causes a spike in road crashes between December 15 and January 15.

Speaking at the flag-off, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed said the new system would eliminate delays and do away with temporary licences.

“We have activated plans to overcome the perennial challenges associated with delays in obtaining the driver’s licence and number plates. Our printing facility has been upgraded to print an average of 15,000 driver’s licences daily.

This production average will be increased to clear the backlog before the second week of November 2025,” he stated.

Mohammed added, “We are also about to commence the contactless biometric capture with on-spot printing of the licence, which will eliminate temporary licences, thereby signaling the beginning of a digitalized one-stop-shop for processing driver’s licences.

With this development, it is expected that delays and other challenges related to the national driver’s licence will be history.”

The Corps Marshal explained that the system was designed in collaboration with key stakeholders, including state governments, since vehicle licensing is on the concurrent legislative list.

“Globally, we have seen how a driver’s licence is obtained. As soon as you come, you get the driver’s licence. What matters is the comprehensive data — adequate data that will be stored for usage at any given time,” he said.

He noted that the new system will integrate driving schools, the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), and certification processes, ensuring a more efficient and centralised procedure.

“We are almost through with the process. It is no longer going to be the process of putting hands on the biometric. This one is a contactless biometric. It doesn’t take time, and it captures all the essence required,” he added.

According to him, the entire process—from application to licence issuance—will now be instantaneous.

“Once you reach the point of capture, you get captured and you get your driver’s licence instantly. There is no longer going to be a temporary driver’s licence. There’s no longer going to be two weeks, one month, six months, one year before you get your driver’s licence,” Mohammed said.

He further revealed that the new process is synchronised with the National Identification Number (NIN) database, ensuring data integrity and easy identity verification. The contactless fingerprint technology, he noted, allows biometric data to be captured without physical touch, improving both efficiency and hygiene.

The FRSC has also strengthened partnerships with state governments, the VIO, and state revenue boards to ensure smooth nationwide implementation.

During a media tour of the FRSC’s Driver’s Licence Print Farm on Monday, Deputy Corps Marshal Aliyu Datsama, in charge of Motor Vehicle Administration, confirmed that the system is already operational and will be deployed nationwide, including Lagos.

Datsama disclosed that the Corps had been working to clear a backlog of 800,000 unprocessed driver’s licences, now reduced to 400,000.

“We are now working 24/7 to clear the remaining backlog. Our current daily production capacity is 40,000 licences, and by the grace of God, we will clear everything in the next few weeks,” he stated.

He also urged Nigerians who have completed their biometric capture to collect their licences, revealing that over 206,000 licences remain unclaimed across various states.

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