Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunii-Ojo has assured that Nigerians will no longer have to wait more than two weeks to receive an international passport.
Mr Tunji-Ojo said on Wednesday that Nigerians were experiencing delays with their applications due to massive backlogs at the Nigeria Immigration Service, which is in charge of passport services.
In most circumstances, the NIS would need to resolve existing passport applications before processing new ones.
Mr. Tunji-Ojo disclosed that the NIS has resolved the backlog of all 204,332 passport applications during a press conference in Abuja.
“If you apply and have been captured, you will get your passport within two weeks,” he said.
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Tunji-Ojo emphasised that the Immigration Service worked around the clock in three shifts to clear the backlogs and promised that such an occurrence would never happen again. “This is not a temporary relief but a permanent solution,” he said.
The minister further announced that the NIS and its partners would enhance their systems in order to provide better services. Applicants will no longer need to attend passport offices for capture beginning in December 2023.
He explained, “People will be able to upload their passport and supporting documents online. Only biometrics will be taken at the passport office.”
Furthermore, Mr Tunji-Ojo pledged to set up passport front offices near residential areas where people can get their passports processed. He warned solution providers that they have three months to implement this initiative or risk contract termination.
He concluded by encouraging Nigerians not to bribe for passports and to report any cases of bribery at any passport office in the country to 08023753414 or aa_ajiboye@yahoo.com.
