The Federal Government has praised the approval of a Full Business Case (FBC) compliance certificate for a new digital diplomatic and visa platform, hailing the development as a major milestone in modernising Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement and migration systems.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, described the issuance of the certificate for the National Digital Diplomatic Platform ASFAAR.NG as a defining moment in ongoing reforms aimed at improving the country’s approach to consular services and international travel.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, Tuggar said the project complies with the ICRC Establishment Act, 2005, and the National Policy on Public-Private Partnerships, noting that it is structured under a design-build-finance-operate (DBFO) arrangement with GIIL Technology and Marketing Solutions Ltd.
He emphasised that securing regulatory clearance and approval from the newly constituted Project Approval Board paves the way for implementation while ensuring the project adheres to national guidelines for unsolicited proposals.
The minister said ASFAAR.NG is intended not merely as a technological upgrade but as a strategic tool to protect Nigerian citizens abroad, restore confidence in outbound travel processes and strengthen diplomatic trust with foreign partners.
Originally designed to address coordination challenges in Hajj and Umrah travel, the platform has since evolved into a comprehensive digital infrastructure for visa facilitation, integrating biometric and biographical verification linked to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
Tuggar added that the system incorporates artificial intelligence for risk profiling and fraud detection and will enable partner embassies to receive verified applications with greater transparency.
He said the platform is expected to enhance consular oversight and provide reliable data on travel compliance, contributing to national security coordination and policy planning.
ASFAAR.NG, formally unveiled in August 2025, represents Nigeria’s first specialised visa application agency designed to streamline travel, curtail documentation fraud and strengthen the integrity of travel documents for Nigerians.
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