FRSC announces digitalisation of driver’s licence issuance, plans to clear backlog before year end
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Issuance of driver’s licence has been digitalised by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), boasting less human contact, to make the process seamless and faster, as well as help curb corruption in the system.
The FRSC announced a contactless biometric capture system to eliminate the use of temporary licences and long waiting periods.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed disclosed in Abuja at the kick off of the 2025 Ember Months Public Enlightenment and Sensitisation Campaign that the new system is part of efforts to fully digitalise FRSC operations and simplify driver’s licence process nationwide.
He said
- FRSC has upgraded its printing facilities to handle increased temporary driver’s licence production and clear backlogs before November 2025 and later end delays in issuing permanent licences.
- The technology will enable instant biometric capture and licence issuance, significantly reducing frustration experienced by applicants over the years.
“It’s seamless now. You don’t need to place your hand on a device to get your fingerprint. The system captures it automatically and synchronizes your details with our database. This is a contactless biometric system that will revolutionize our operations,” Mohammed added.
“At the end of the process, once you’re captured, you get your driver’s licence immediately. There will be no more temporary licences or long waiting periods – no more two weeks, one month, or a year before receiving your permanent licence,”
He also disclosed that:
- The contactless biometric system will commence this month, ensuring that all applicants enjoy a digitalised, one-stop process integrated with the national database.
- The FRSC recorded a decline in road crash fatalities compared to last year.
- Data from the 2024 Operation Zero (December 15, 2024 – January 15, 2025) shows 432 deaths and 2,070 injuries from 533 crashes. Between January and September 2025, there were 3,433 deaths and 22,162 injuries in 6,858 crashes, a relative improvement in road safety outcomes.
- The FRSC will intensify its Ember Months operations with targeted campaigns against distracted driving, fatigue, overloading, and the use of phones while driving.
- There are plans to host the International Conference on Road Crash Victims for Africa from 16 to 18 November 2025, in partnership with the KRSD Road Safety Foundation, to strengthen post-crash care in line with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.
- During a visit to FRSC Driver’s Licence Print Farm, Deputy Corps Marshal (Motor Vehicle Administration), Aliyu Datsama, confirmed that the Corps has increased production capacity to clear pending backlogs.
“We work 24/7 now because of the backlog we had. It was about 800,000, but we’ve reduced it to 400,000. Our daily production rate is 40,000, and in the next few weeks, we’ll clear everything, by the grace of God,” Datsama said.
The FRSC reiterated its commitment to leveraging technology for improved service delivery and safer roads across the country.
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