The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has unveiled a new contactless biometric capture system for driver’s licence issuance, a major leap toward full digitalisation of Nigeria’s motor vehicle administration process.
The announcement came on Monday in Abuja during the launch of the 2025 Ember Months Road Safety Campaign, themed “Tech Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.” The campaign targets reckless and distracted driving, particularly during the high-risk festive travel period between December 15 and January 15.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the new system would eliminate the long-standing delays and inefficiencies that have plagued driver’s licence processing, as well as end the use of temporary licences.
“We have upgraded our printing facility to produce an average of 15,000 driver’s licences daily, and we are increasing that capacity to clear all backlogs before the second week of November 2025,” Mohammed said.
He explained that the contactless biometric system allows instant licence printing at the point of capture, making it a true one-stop process.
“Once you are captured, you get your licence immediately. There will be no more temporary licences or long waiting periods,” he assured.
According to the Corps Marshal, the new process was developed in collaboration with state governments and other stakeholders, ensuring smooth integration with driving schools, the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), and the National Identification Number (NIN) database.
Mohammed described the technology as seamless, noting that it captures biometric data without physical contact by using advanced sensors that scan fingerprints from a short distance.
During a media tour of the FRSC’s Driver’s Licence Print Farm, Deputy Corps Marshal (Motor Vehicle Administration), Aliyu Datsama, revealed that the system is already operational and will be deployed nationwide, including Lagos.
Datsama disclosed that the Corps had reduced its backlog of 800,000 unprocessed licences to 400,000, adding that round-the-clock operations are ongoing to clear the remainder.
“We are now producing about 40,000 licences daily and expect to clear all pending applications within weeks,” he said.
He also appealed to motorists who have completed biometric capture to collect their licences, noting that over 206,000 processed licences remain unclaimed across the country.
The FRSC said the reform represents a milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward a digitalised, efficient, and corruption-free driver’s licence system.