The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has introduced a contactless biometric capture system for driver’s licence issuance, marking a major leap toward the digitalisation of Nigeria’s motor vehicle administration processes.

The innovation was announced 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 aims to curb road crashes typically associated with the busy festive season between December 15 and January 15.

Speaking at the event, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the new system would eliminate delays in obtaining licences and phase out the use of temporary documents.

“We have activated plans to overcome the perennial challenges associated with delays in obtaining driver’s licences and number plates. Our upgraded printing facility can now produce an average of 15,000 licences daily,” Mohammed said.
“This output will be increased further to clear the backlog before the second week of November 2025.”

He explained that the contactless biometric capture allows for on-the-spot licence printing, creating a “digitalised one-stop-shop” for drivers.

“With this development, it is expected that delays and other challenges related to the national driver’s licence will become history,” he added.

The Corps Marshal noted that the new system was developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including state governments, given that licensing falls under the concurrent legislative list.

“Globally, we have seen how licences are issued immediately after capture. What matters is the accuracy and integrity of the data stored for future use,” he said.

Mohammed further disclosed that the initiative will fully integrate driving schools, the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), and certification processes into a unified and faster system.

“This new contactless biometric system captures all required data without physical contact, using technology that reads fingerprints from a short distance,” he explained.

He emphasised that once an applicant’s capture is completed, the licence would be printed instantly, eliminating waiting periods of weeks or months. The new process is also synchronised with the National Identification Number (NIN) database to ensure seamless identity verification and data consistency.

Meanwhile, the FRSC’s Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Motor Vehicle Administration, Aliyu Datsama, confirmed during a press tour of the FRSC’s Driver’s Licence Print Farm that the system is already operational and will soon be rolled out nationwide, including Lagos.

Datsama disclosed that the Corps had been tackling a massive backlog of 800,000 unprocessed licences, which has now been reduced to 400,000.

“We are now working 24/7 to clear the remaining backlog. Our current production capacity stands at 40,000 licences daily, and by the grace of God, we will clear everything in the next few weeks,” he said.

He also urged motorists who have completed their biometric capture to check and collect their licences, revealing that over 206,000 licences remain unclaimed across various states.

The FRSC said it is strengthening collaboration with state governments, the VIO, and state revenue boards to ensure smooth nationwide implementation of the new digital system.