Immigration begins enhanced e-passport distribution to ease travelling
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Abuja has begun distributing enhanced e-passport to applicants North and South, and to diaspora Nigerians abroad, to make issuance of the document hassle free.
Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola made the disclosure at the new Passport Production Centre and new Passport Front Office in Ilesa, Osun, where he enthused the production of e-passport and launch of front offices would facilitate the process.
He noted Ilesa has joined the list of cities such as Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Katsina, Zaria, Daura as well as Nigerian missions abroad where enhanced e-passport has been rolled out.
Aregbesola commended President Muhammadu Buhari for providing the leadership for the achievements in the ministry which include reform of passport administration.
He also commended the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for its dedication to the reform.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service has continued to make very remarkable contributions to the overall service delivery and accomplishments of the mandate of the Ministry of Interior, which I have supervised in the last four years.
“The climax of these contributions by the NIS is the widely acclaimed reforms in the passport administration both at home and in the Diaspora,” Aregbesola said.
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Commitment to service delivery
Aregbesola applauded the NIS under Comptroller General of Immigration Isah Idris for its professionalism and commitment to qualitative service delivery, as well as other stakeholders and service providers for making the facilities possible, per Vanguard.
Idris explained enhanced e-passport is significant for the drive for robust service delivery to the travelling public.
“The NIS is more than committed to producing results that meet the needs of our present day society while making the best use of resources at its disposal. The enhanced e-passport is significant to our drive for robust service delivery to our citizens,” he stressed.
“We are aware of the challenges being experienced by some of our compatriots in accessing passport services in recent times but with the various efforts being emplaced, such as the unveiling of the enhanced e-passport here in Ilesa, these challenges will soon give way for the emergence of a more seamless passport application and processing.
“Efforts are ongoing to ensure more front offices are opened in other states to reduce the traffic.”
Idris pledged the facilities would reduce passport issuance delay to the barest minimum and counselled applicants to follow the guidelines and apply and pay online, avoid middlemen, and provide correct personal information and verified National Identification Number (NIN).
He urged those who have complaints to use any of the NIS channels to resolve the issues – including Twitter (@nigimmigration), Facebook (@nigimmigration) or www.immigration.gov.ng to chat with the NIS virtual assistant.