Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps has started the full digitalisation of driver’s licence processing. The new framework, unveiled by Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, introduces contactless biometric capture and on-the-spot printing of permanent driver’s licences, effectively abolishing the infamous temporary licence and promising to eliminate the perennial backlogs that have frustrated Nigerian motorists for decades.
This comprehensive overhaul, announced in the nation’s capital, Abuja, is not merely an upgrade but a complete re-engineering of the licence acquisition and renewal process. It transitions the country from a system plagued by bureaucratic delays often stretching into months or even years to a “one-stop-shop” digital platform where applicants can be captured and receive their permanent licence in a single visit.
The initiative was launched concurrently with the 2025 “Ember Months” Road Safety Campaign, a symbolic scheduling that underscores the FRSC’s belief that technological efficiency is a cornerstone of road safety.
Speaking at the flag-off event on Monday, Corps Marshal Mohammed declared the end of the long wait for Nigerian drivers. “We have activated plans to overcome the perennial challenges associated with delays in obtaining the driver’s licence and number plates,” he stated. “Today, we are officially commencing the contactless biometric capture with on-spot printing of the licence. This will eliminate temporary licences, thereby signalling the beginning of a digitalised one-stop-shop for processing driver’s licences.”
The move is arguably the single most significant reform in the history of driver licensing in Nigeria, tackling deep-rooted issues of forgery, administrative inefficiency, and public frustration head-on. As the system rolls out across Driver’s Licence Centres (DLCs) nationwide, it promises to redefine the relationship between millions of Nigerian drivers and the nation’s lead road safety agency.
The Anatomy of a Revolution: How the New System Works
The magic of the new system lies in two key technological advancements: contactless biometrics and decentralised, high-capacity printing. This combination attacks the two primary bottlenecks of the old process: the cumbersome, often-faulty capture process and the centralized, low-output printing .
1. The ‘Contactless’ Capture
Forget the old method of pressing and rolling each finger on a small, often-unclean scanner. The new system, as described by the Corps Marshal, is a seamless, hygienic, and significantly faster process.
“It is no longer going to be the process of putting hands on the biometric scanner,” Mohammed explained. “This one is a contactless biometric. It doesn’t take time, and also, it captures all the essence required.”
This advanced technology, likely using high-resolution cameras and sophisticated algorithms, captures all necessary biometric data (fingerprints, facial features) from a short distance without physical contact. This not only speeds up the queue at capture stations but also enhances hygiene, a lesson well-learned from the post-pandemic era.
This capture process is the final step after an applicant has completed the other statutory requirements, which remain in place:
- Registration with an accredited driving school.
- Passing a driving test and receiving a certificate of proficiency from the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO).
- Making the prescribed payment online or at a bank.
- Synchronization with the National Identification Number (NIN) database, which is a mandatory prerequisite. The system integrates seamlessly with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database, ensuring data consistency and verifying identity instantly.
2. ‘Capture-to-Print’: The Instant Licence
The most transformative aspect for the average Nigerian is what happens immediately after capture. Under the old system, an applicant’s data would be sent to a central processing hub, batched, and queued for printing at the FRSC’s “print farm.” This process could take months, during which the applicant was issued a temporary paper licence with a 60-day validity, often requiring multiple renewals.
“Once you reach the point of capture, you get captured and you get your driver’s licence instantly,” Corps Marshal Mohammed stated unequivocally. “There is no longer going to be a temporary driver’s licence. There’s no longer going to be two weeks, one month, six months, one year before you get your driver’s licence.”
This is achieved by deploying new, high-capacity printing facilities. The FRSC has massively upgraded its printing infrastructure, which officials confirm now has the capacity to produce an average of 15,000 driver’s licences daily. Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Motor Vehicle Administration, Aliyu Datsama, provided even more optimistic figures, stating a current daily production capacity of 40,000 licences as the Corps works 24/7 to clear the existing backlog.
This decentralised, “on-the-spot” printing model means a driver walks into a DLC, completes the biometric capture, and walks out with their permanent, polycarbonate card in hand, often in a matter of minutes.
Tackling the Hydra: The Backlog and Forgery Menace
The new digital system is a direct assault on two of the FRSC’s most persistent challenges: the monumental backlog of unprinted licences and the thriving black market for forged documents.
An ‘Embarrassing’ Backlog
For years, the FRSC has been fighting a losing battle against its production queue. The problem became a national embarrassment, with officials admitting to a staggering backlog that, at its peak, reached 800,000 unprocessed driver’s licences.
This delay was not just an inconvenience; it had serious legal and security implications. Motorists with expired temporary licences were often at the mercy of enforcement officials, leading to arguments, extortion, and a general disrespect for the document.
The new system is already proving its worth. Deputy Corps Marshal Datsama confirmed on Monday that the aggressive, 24/7 printing schedule has already reduced the 800,000-licence backlog to 400,000. “By the grace of God, we will clear everything in the next few weeks,” he assured the public.
This effort is twofold: clearing the old data awaiting print while simultaneously processing new applicants with the instant-print system. The Corps is also urging Nigerians who have already completed capture in the past to visit their DLCs to check for their cards, as over 206,000 printed licences remain unclaimed across the country.
The Other ‘Digital Licence’: The e-Licence in Your Pocket
While the “instant print” system is the core of today’s news, it’s important to differentiate it from another digital innovation by the FRSC: the Electronic Driver’s Licence (eNDL).
This e-licence is not the physical card; it is a digital version of your driver’s licence stored securely on your smartphone. According to the FRSC’s official driver’s licence portal, this feature is:
- Optional: It is designed to be used in addition to the physical card, not as a replacement.
- App-Based: It is accessible through a dedicated FRSC mobile app available on app stores.
- Real-Time: Any updates to your licence (like renewal or re-issue) reflect on the e-licence instantly, so you don’t have to wait for a new physical card.
- Secure & Offline: The app is protected by your phone’s security (PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition) and is designed to work offline, meaning you can display it for verification even without an internet connection.
- Cost-Based: The official portal notes that the electronic licence is “available at an additional nominal fee.”
The rollout of the “instant print” system is expected to boost the adoption of the optional e-licence. Drivers, having received their permanent card instantly, can then proceed to activate the digital version on their phones for added convenience.
This two-pronged digital approach, a highly efficient issuance process for the physical card and a convenient digital version on a smartphone positions Nigeria’s driver’s licence system as one of the most advanced in Africa.
The Broader Vision: A Digital, Safer Nigeria
This reform is not happening in a vacuum. It is a critical component of the Federal Government’s broader digital economy agenda. By linking the driver’s licence to the NIN, the FRSC is contributing to a unified national database, which has profound implications for security, credit scoring, and social services.
Corps Marshal Mohammed linked the new technology directly to the theme of the Ember Months campaign: “Tech Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.” The message is clear: technology is the new frontier for road safety, both in the hands of the government (for efficient administration) and in the hands of the driver (for avoiding distractions).
As Nigeria heads into the high-traffic festive season, the FRSC’s ability to put more legitimate, verified drivers on the road and remove the excuse of “waiting for my licence” is a significant boost. The end of the temporary licence is more than an administrative milestone; it is the end of an excuse, the end of a vulnerability, and the dawn of a new, more accountable era in Nigerian motoring.
