Nigerian Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said that starting May 1, the country will fully digitize its expatriate residence permit (CERPAC) system, aiming to speed up authorizations and deal with corruption.
In a statement on social media, he said this does not increase the application fee but rather applies modern technology to make the process less manual by removing the need for submission and payment at the bank.
Last week, while addressing a business forum in Lagos, Tunji-Ojo said, “There are no more purchases of completed forms or submissions of documents in person. Applications will now be done fully online, permits will have QR codes, and security systems will be embedded to scan whether the person has a criminal record or immigration history.” He said the digital change will improve the efficiency of verification processes and boost security.
The changes also seek to curb the abuse of Nigeria’s expatriate quota system, where companies are reportedly using available slots for foreign employees for positions easily filled locally, like driving and waiting. Under the new directives, quotas will be set for positions that need particular expertise not available in the country. Firms will be required to train Nigerian nationals and report on the progress of knowledge transfer (KTP) that makes such arrangements possible.
Firms employing expatriates will, however, be required to introduce an insurance policy that covers repatriation and personal liability costs for their foreign employees.
Tunji-Ojo cautioned that the updated CERPAC platform will connect to Interpol and international security organizations to prevent the use of Nigeria as a “haven” by those with criminal records.
These modifications come after the automation of Nigeria’s e-visa system in February, and all changes will take effect from May 1.
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