The Federal Government has announced significant updates to the visa application process, with plans to move all applications online before March 1, 2025.
Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, shared the development on Monday during a session on ‘X Spaces’ hosted by influencer Dr. Segun Awosanya.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the shift to an online system is part of the government’s efforts to streamline visa processing, enhance national security, and reduce corruption.
He also highlighted the establishment of a centralized visa approval center, aimed at ensuring uniformity across the visa regime and improving transparency.
“This new centralized visa approval center is a significant achievement for this administration. It will combat corruption, bolster national security, and ensure a uniform visa process. By March 1, all visa applications will be processed online for proper vetting,” he said.
The minister also discussed the creation of a harmonized data center at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) within the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Sauka, Abuja. Tunji-Ojo noted that Nigeria now boasts one of the largest data centers in its history, with an 8.3-petabyte capacity.
He explained that the country had previously lacked a centralized data storage system, leading to the storage of Nigerians’ data in private facilities, which violated the Data Protection Act.
The new 8.3-petabyte data center, which surpasses the initially promised 1.4-petabyte capacity, addresses this issue and is among the largest in the world.
