The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has unveiled a contactless biometric driver’s licence system aimed at making licence issuance in Nigeria faster, easier, and fully digital. The new technology eliminates the need for temporary licences and long waiting periods, allowing applicants to receive their permanent licences instantly.
Speaking in Abuja during the flag-off of the 2025 Ember Months Public Enlightenment and Sensitisation Campaign, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, described the innovation as a major step toward the digital transformation of FRSC operations across the country.
According to Mohammed, the Corps has upgraded its printing infrastructure to handle higher demand and clear backlogs ahead of November 2025. The new system, he explained, enables instant biometric capture and automatic data synchronization with the FRSC database.
“It’s now a seamless process. Applicants don’t need to touch any device for fingerprinting , the system automatically captures and verifies your details. Once the capture is done, your driver’s licence is issued immediately,” Mohammed said.
He emphasized that the contactless biometric system will be deployed nationwide this month, providing a one-stop digital process integrated with the national database.
On road safety statistics, Mohammed revealed a decline in road crash fatalities compared to previous years. Data from Operation Zero (December 15, 2024 – January 15, 2025) recorded 432 deaths and 2,070 injuries from 533 crashes. Between January and September 2025, there were 3,433 deaths and 22,162 injuries from 6,858 crashes, reflecting a gradual improvement in safety outcomes.
The FRSC boss added that this year’s Ember Months operations will focus on tackling distracted driving, fatigue, overloading, and phone use behind the wheel, as part of the Corps’ intensified efforts to ensure safer highways.
Mohammed also announced that Nigeria will host the International Conference on Road Crash Victims for Africa from November 16 to 18, 2025, in collaboration with the KRSD Road Safety Foundation, to strengthen post-crash care and align with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.
During an inspection visit to the FRSC Driver’s Licence Print Farm, Deputy Corps Marshal (Motor Vehicle Administration), Aliyu Datsama, confirmed that production has been ramped up to address existing backlogs.
“We now operate round the clock to clear the backlog. It was around 800,000, but we’ve reduced it to 400,000. With our current daily production rate of 40,000 licences, we’ll clear the rest in the coming weeks,” Datsama said.
The FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging technology for efficient service delivery, enhanced road safety, and a smoother driver’s licence experience for Nigerians.
