Minister harps on seamless passport experience for Nigerians

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government towards delivering a seamless and efficient passport experience for Nigerians, both within the country and in the diaspora.

He said this was the directive from President Bola Tinubu to him and other cabinet members towards attainment of the renewed hope for the nation.

Speaking at the inaugural 2024 Diaspora Webinar Lecture Series of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) entitled: “New Passport Policy/Processes for Nigerians in the Diaspora,” the minister emphasised the importance of providing top-notch service befitting Nigeria’s stature as the giant of Africa.

According to him, effective from March 8, 2024, Nigerians will benefit from a contactless passport application process, reducing the time required to complete the entire process to a maximum of seven to 10 minutes.

This reform is part of the efforts to modernise the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and enhance service delivery to citizens.

Highlighting the achievements and sweeping reforms within the Ministry and its parastatals, particularly the NIS, Tunji-Ojo underscored the milestones such as the clearance of over 200,000 passport backlogs within three weeks of his assumption of office and the deployment of E-Gates at international airports to streamline entry and exit processes.

The minister also outlined plans for the installation of a modern control centre across international airports in Abuja and Lagos, aimed at enhancing immigration officers’ capacity and providing Nigerians with a seamless travel experience.

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He stressed on the importance of leveraging on technology to simplify passport acquisition, stating that Nigerians will only need their National Identification Number (NIN) for passport applications and biometrics.

“Through an automated system, data will be pulled from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database to fill application forms, reducing the risk of identity fraud and ensuring a single point of contact for citizens,” he said.

The minister added that plans are underway to automate the passport enrolment process, enabling online application, biometric capture, and home delivery of passports, thus eliminating the need for physical visits to passport offices.

The minister addressed concerns raised by participants from various continents regarding current challenges in passport application and delivery processes, assuring them of the government’s commitment to resolving these issues soonest.

The former lawmaker urged Nigerians to take pride in acquiring their passports, as the new process heralds a new era of hope and progress for the nation and its diaspora community, adding that the Ministry will partner with NIDCOM.

Earlier, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, commended the minister’s efforts, highlighting the significance of the Diaspora Lecture Series in keeping Nigerians abroad informed about  programmes and reforms of President Tinubu’s administration.

In her presentation, the Comptroller General of the Immigration Service, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, emphasised that the new process would significantly reduce human interaction, thereby eliminating inconveniences associated with passport applications and saving time for both applicants and immigration personnel.

Adepoju said the Service has produced 1,033,506 passports in 2021, another 1, 597,729 in 2022, while in 2023 over a record 2,141,300 were produced amidst various challenges.

She, however, said that many Nigerians did not come forward to pick up their passports at various centres she visited recently both within and outside Nigeria, promising that from March, there will be positive improvement in passport production without going through any stress or interventions.

The Star