Cynthia Ezegwu
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced the introduction of a contactless biometric capture system for the issuance of driver’s licences, marking a major step toward full digitalisation in Nigeria’s motor vehicle administration.
The new initiative was unveiled on Monday in Abuja during the flag-off of the 2025 Ember Months Road Safety Campaign, themed “Tech Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.” The campaign targets reckless and distracted driving—key causes of road crashes—particularly during the busy festive period between December 15 and January 15.
Speaking at the event, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the new system would eliminate delays and the need for temporary licences by enabling instant issuance upon biometric capture.
“We have activated plans to overcome the perennial challenges associated with delays in obtaining driver’s licences and number plates. Our printing facility now produces an average of 15,000 licences daily, and we are on track to clear all backlogs before the second week of November,” Mohammed stated.
He explained that the contactless biometric capture system would allow drivers to obtain their licences immediately after data capture without physical fingerprint contact. The process, he said, is synchronised with the National Identification Number (NIN) database to ensure seamless verification and accuracy.
“Once you reach the point of capture, you get your driver’s licence instantly. There will no longer be temporary licences or delays of weeks or months,” he said.
The Corps Marshal noted that the digital process was developed in consultation with state governments, the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), and driving schools, adding that licensing remains under the concurrent legislative list.
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During a tour of the FRSC Driver’s Licence Print Farm, the Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Motor Vehicle Administration, Aliyu Datsama, revealed that the new system is already operational and will soon be deployed nationwide, including Lagos.
He disclosed that the Corps had been tackling a backlog of 800,000 unprocessed licences, which has now been reduced to 400,000, while over 206,000 completed licences remain unclaimed.
“We now operate 24 hours a day to clear the remaining backlog. Our current capacity is 40,000 licences daily, and we aim to complete all pending cases in the coming weeks,” Datsama said.
The FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to improving efficiency in motor vehicle administration and urged Nigerians to verify and collect their processed licences from designated centres across the country.