The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has unveiled a new contactless biometric capture system for driver’s licence issuance — a move aimed at streamlining the process and eliminating long delays often faced by applicants across Nigeria.
The announcement was made on Monday in Abuja during the launch of the 2025 Ember Months Road Safety Campaign, themed “Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.” The annual campaign focuses on curbing reckless driving and reducing road crashes, especially during the high-traffic festive period from December 15 to January 15.
Speaking at the event, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed said the new system would mark a major leap towards digitalising Nigeria’s motor vehicle administration.
“We have activated plans to overcome the perennial challenges associated with delays in obtaining driver’s licences and number plates. Our printing facility has been upgraded to produce an average of 15,000 licences daily,” he said.
“We are also about to commence contactless biometric capture with on-the-spot printing of licences. This will eliminate temporary licences and usher in a digital one-stop process.”
Mohammed explained that with the new contactless technology, applicants will no longer need to wait weeks or months before receiving their licences.
“Once your biometric data is captured, you’ll get your driver’s licence instantly,” he said. “No more temporary documents or prolonged waiting periods.”
The corps marshal added that the system was developed in collaboration with state governments and relevant agencies since motor vehicle administration falls under a concurrent legislative framework. The new setup will integrate driving schools, the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), and certification processes into one seamless workflow.
He also noted that the contactless fingerprint technology would capture biometric data without physical touch, using sensors that read fingerprints from a short distance — improving both speed and hygiene.
“It’s no longer about placing your fingers on a scanner. This contactless biometric process captures all the essential data within seconds,” Mohammed explained.
The new system will also be synchronised with the National Identification Number (NIN) database to ensure data consistency and identity verification.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Motor Vehicle Administration, Aliyu Datsama, revealed during a media tour of the FRSC’s Driver’s Licence Print Farm that the contactless system is already operational and will soon be rolled out nationwide, including in Lagos.
Datsama disclosed that the Corps had been battling a backlog of 800,000 a unprocessed driver’s licences, which has now been reduced to 400,000, thanks to an expanded printing capacity.
“We are now operating 24/7, printing up to 40,000 licences daily. By the grace of God, the remaining backlog will be cleared in the next few weeks,” he said.
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He also appealed to Nigerians who have already completed their biometric capture to visit their state licensing offices to collect their licences, revealing that over 206,000 printed licences remain unclaimed.
The FRSC says it will continue to work closely with state revenue boards, VIOs, and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth, nationwide rollout of the new contactless system.
