The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has welcomed the issuance of a Full Business Case (FBC) Compliance Certificate for the National Digital Diplomatic Platform, ASFAAR.NG, describing it as a defining milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing reform of its diplomatic and migration management systems.
The certificate was issued by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), confirming that the project complies with the ICRC Establishment Act, 2005 and the National Policy on Public-Private Partnerships.
From the Ministry’s perspective, the regulatory clearance represents the highest standard of technical, financial and legal due diligence, and formally paves the way for implementation following approval by the Project Approval Board.
The Ministry stated that ASFAAR.NG is not merely a technological upgrade, but a strategic diplomatic instrument carefully designed to protect Nigerian citizens abroad and restore confidence in Nigeria’s outbound travel ecosystem.
Originally conceived to address coordination and compliance challenges associated with Hajj and Umrah travel, the platform has since evolved into a comprehensive, multi-country digital infrastructure for visa facilitation and travel verification.
Through integration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and relevant security agencies, the system will authenticate applicants using biometric and biographic data linked to the National Identification Number (NIN).
In addition, artificial intelligence tools will be deployed to profile risk, detect fraudulent documentation, and route high-risk applications through structured inter-agency vetting before submission to foreign missions. A secure diplomatic interface will enable partner embassies particularly in the Arab and Gulf regions to receive verified applications with enhanced confidence and transparency.
According to the Ministry, the platform directly advances its constitutional and diplomatic mandate of safeguarding Nigerians abroad while strengthening bilateral relations.
Officials noted that visa overstays and documentation fraud have, in recent years, affected Nigeria’s travel reputation. By institutionalising verification and compliance, ASFAAR.NG is expected to rebuild diplomatic trust and reinforce Nigeria’s position in negotiations aimed at restoring and expanding visa quotas for legitimate travellers.
The system will also strengthen consular oversight by providing a structured framework for monitoring outbound travel patterns and enabling timely interventions where necessary.
Beyond migration management, ASFAAR.NG will serve as a data-driven governance tool, offering reliable intelligence on compliance metrics and demographic trends to support national security coordination and evidence-based policy planning.
The project is structured under a Design-Build-Finance-Operate (DBFO) Public-Private Partnership arrangement with GIIL Technology and Marketing Solutions Ltd.
With regulatory clearance secured, the Ministry has approved the project through the newly constituted Project Approval Board to ensure execution of the concession agreement in line with the Unsolicited Proposal guidelines of the ICRC.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s digital diplomacy architecture, enhancing citizen protection, and reinforcing trust with international partners through structured, lawful and forward-looking reforms.