Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Darlington Nwauju has praised the launch of Nigeria’s first contactless passport application system, hailing it as a groundbreaking advancement in government service delivery. The Ministry of Interior, led by Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, introduced the initiative’s Phase 1, which is aimed at simplifying passport renewals for Nigerians abroad, especially in Canada.

This phase will soon be followed by additional rollouts, anticipated by December 1, 2024, to further extend services. Nwauju, who also serves as the APC’s Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, highlighted the initiative as a significant step forward for e-governance in Nigeria, improving transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public services.

Nwauju emphasized that obstacles to effective e-governance in Nigeria have long included insufficient political commitment and organizational frameworks. “The challenge of e-governance in Nigeria has been poor political will and zero organizational framework to drive the process,” he noted, adding that the Ministry’s approach of delivering government-to-citizen services is a transformative move to foster trust and efficiency through technology.

The APC leader pointed out that previously, routine passport renewals had caused frustration among Nigerians living abroad and harmed the government’s image. He commended the innovation as a positive shift in light of recent reforms, including the signing of a Performance Contract between the Minister and agency heads.

In a broader message, Nwauju addressed the widespread disillusionment with unfulfilled promises by public officials, saying Nigerians are eager to see real, impactful changes through initiatives like the contactless passport system.