FRSC launches contactless driver’s license system, targets backlog, delays
The Federal Road Safety Corps has introduced a contactless biometric system for issuing driver’s licenses, in a move officials say will eliminate delays and temporary documents while boosting digital efficiency nationwide.
The new system was unveiled Monday in Abuja during the launch of the Corps’ 2025 Ember Months Road Safety Campaign, themed “Tech Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.” The initiative aims to reduce traffic crashes during the high-risk travel season between Dec. 15 and Jan. 15.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed said the digital upgrade marks a major shift in how licenses are processed, allowing drivers to receive their permanent license immediately after biometric capture.
“We have activated plans to overcome the perennial challenges associated with delays in obtaining driver’s licenses and number plates,” Mohammed said. “Our printing facility has been upgraded to print an average of 15,000 licenses daily.”
He said the daily production rate would be increased to clear a backlog of unprocessed licenses by the second week of November.
Mohammed said the new contactless system allows biometric data to be captured without physical touch, eliminating the need for temporary licenses and streamlining the entire application process.
“Once you reach the point of capture, you get your license instantly,” he said. “There’s no longer going to be two weeks, one month, or even a year before you get your driver’s license.”
The system, he added, is integrated with the National Identification Number (NIN) database to ensure consistency and simplify identity verification.
Mohammed said the upgrade was developed in collaboration with state governments and relevant agencies, including driving schools, Vehicle Inspection Offices and revenue boards, to ensure a unified and faster licensing process.
“Globally, we’ve seen that what matters most is comprehensive, accurate data stored securely and accessed when needed,” he said.
Deputy Corps Marshal Aliyu Datsama, who oversees the Motor Vehicle Administration department, said the system is already operational and will be implemented nationwide, including in Lagos.
During a media tour of the FRSC’s Driver’s License Print Farm, Datsama said the Corps had reduced a backlog of 800,000 unprocessed licenses to 400,000 and is now working around the clock to eliminate the remainder.
“Our current daily production capacity is 40,000 licenses,” he said. “By the grace of God, we will clear everything in the next few weeks.”
Datsama urged Nigerians who have completed their biometric capture to collect their licenses, noting that more than 206,000 printed licenses remain unclaimed across various states.