By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has unveiled a contactless biometric capture system for driver’s licence issuance, signalling a major move toward digitalisation in Nigeria’s motor vehicle administration.
The announcement coincides with the launch of the Corps’ 2025 Ember Months Road Safety Campaign, aimed at reducing road accidents during the busy festive period. The campaign, launched on Monday in Abuja, carries the theme: “Tech Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.” It focuses on curbing risky driving behaviors that often contribute to increased crashes between December 15 and January 15.
During the flag-off, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed highlighted the advantages of the new system, which is designed to eliminate delays and the need for temporary documents.
“We have activated plans to overcome the perennial challenges associated with delays in obtaining the driver’s license and number plates. Our printing facility has been upgraded to print an average of 15,000 driver’s licenses daily.
“This production average will be increased to clear the backlog before the second week of November 2025,” he said.
Mohammed added, “We are also about to commence the contactless biometric capture with on-spot printing of the license, which will eliminate temporary licenses, thereby signaling the beginning of a digitalized one-stop-shop for processing driver’s licenses.
“With this development, it is expected that delays and other challenges related to the national driver’s license will be history.”
The Corps Marshal explained that the system was developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including state governments, as driver licensing falls under a concurrent legislative list.
“Globally, we have seen how a driver’s licence has been obtained. As soon as you come, you get the driver’s license. What matters is the comprehensive data, the adequate data that will be stored for usage at any given time,” he said.
He noted that the new system will fully integrate existing driving schools, Vehicle Inspection Offices, and certification processes, but in a faster, more streamlined manner.
“We are almost through with the process. It is no longer going to be the process of putting hands on the biometric. This one is a contactless biometric. It doesn’t take time, and also, it captures all the essence required,” Mohammed said.
According to him, the entire workflow—from application to licence issuance—will now be immediate upon data capture.
“Once you reach the point of capture, you get captured and you get your driver’s licence instantly. 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,” he stated.
He also noted that the system is synced with the National Identification Number database to ensure data consistency and smooth identity verification.
Describing the contactless fingerprint system as “seamless,” Mohammed explained that it captures biometric data without physical contact, using advanced technology that reads fingerprints from a short distance.
The FRSC has strengthened collaboration with state governments and agencies such as the VIO and state revenue boards to ensure nationwide implementation of the new system.
During a press tour of the FRSC Driver’s Licence Print Farm, Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Motor Vehicle Administration, Aliyu Datsama, confirmed that the contactless system is operational and will soon be rolled out across the country, including Lagos.
Datsama also revealed that the Corps had previously faced a 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 daily production capacity is 40,000 licences, and by the grace of God, we will clear everything in the next few weeks,” he stated.
He urged Nigerians who have already completed capture to check and collect their licences, noting that “over 206,000 licences remain unclaimed across various states.”