The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced the launch of a contactless biometric capture system for driver’s licence issuance, marking a major step toward digitalisation in Nigeria’s motor vehicle administration.
This announcement coincided with the launch of the Corps’ 2025 Ember Months Road Safety Campaign, aimed at reducing road accidents during the peak festive season.
The campaign, which kicked off on Monday in Abuja, carries the theme: “Tech Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.” It focuses on curbing risky driving behaviors that typically cause spikes in accidents between December 15 and January 15.
During the flag-off event, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed highlighted that the new licence system would eliminate delays and remove the need for temporary driver’s licences.
“We have upgraded our printing facility to produce an average of 15,000 driver’s licences daily, with plans to increase this output to clear the backlog before the second week of November 2025,” the Corps Marshal said.
He added, “We are set to commence contactless biometric capture with on-the-spot licence printing, which will end the issuance of temporary licences and inaugurate a fully digitalised, one-stop process for driver’s licence issuance.”
The Corps Marshal explained that this system was developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, including state governments, since driver licensing is part of the concurrent legislative list.
“Globally, driver’s licences are issued instantly upon application, provided comprehensive data is captured and stored for future verification,” he noted.
The new system will integrate driving schools, Vehicle Inspection Offices (VIO), and certification processes, offering a faster and more streamlined experience.
“We’re nearing completion of this process. Unlike the old biometric system, this contactless technology is quick and captures all necessary data without physical contact,” Mohammed said.
He assured that the entire process—from application to licence issuance—would become immediate.
“Once biometric data is captured, applicants will receive their driver’s licence instantly. The days of waiting weeks or months for a licence are over,” he stated.
The new system is synchronized with the National Identification Number (NIN) database to ensure data consistency and seamless identity verification.
Describing the contactless fingerprint technology as “seamless,” Mohammed explained it captures fingerprints from a short distance using advanced sensors without physical contact.
The FRSC has also strengthened collaboration with state governments, VIO, and state revenue boards to ensure nationwide rollout of the new system.
During a press tour of the FRSC’s Driver’s Licence Print Farm, Deputy Corps Marshal Aliyu Datsama confirmed that the contactless system is already operational and will be implemented nationwide, including in Lagos.
He revealed that the Corps has reduced a backlog of 800,000 unprocessed driver’s licences to 400,000.
“We are now working around the clock to clear the remaining backlog. Our current daily production capacity is 40,000 licences, and we expect to clear all pending applications within the next few weeks,” Datsama said.
He also urged Nigerians who have completed biometric capture to collect their licences, noting that over 206,000 remain unclaimed across various states.
