FG to Centralize Visa Approvals and Transition to Online Applications by March 1
The Nigerian government has announced the establishment of a centralized visa approval centre, designed to streamline the visa application process, enhance national security, and tackle corruption. The new initiative, which will also see the transition to fully online visa applications, is set to be fully operational by March 1, 2025.
The announcement was made by Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, during a live session on ‘X Spaces’ hosted by influencer Dr. Segun Awosanya. The minister described the centralized visa system as a major achievement of the current administration, emphasizing its potential to transform Nigeria’s immigration processes.
“The visa approval centre is a significant milestone for us,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo said. “It will eliminate corruption, strengthen national security, and create a more unified visa system. Starting March 1, all visa applications will be processed online, allowing for better vetting and greater transparency.”
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In addition to the visa approval centre, Dr. Tunji-Ojo highlighted the establishment of a state-of-the-art data centre at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Sauka, Abuja. The new facility, which holds 8.3 petabytes of data, is one of the largest data centres in Nigeria’s history and will play a crucial role in supporting the new system.
“We’ve built one of the largest data centres in Nigeria’s history,” said the minister. “Previously, sensitive immigration data was stored under private arrangements, which was a violation of the Data Protection Act. This administration has fixed that by delivering a secure and centralized data infrastructure.”
The minister added that the centralised data centre not only addresses previous data management issues but also aligns with global best practices for securing sensitive information.
