Nigeria launches 10-year validity passport for its citizens in UK, US
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nigeria has launched for its citizens in the United Kingdom and the United States three categories of e-passports, one with a 10-year validity, to resolve complaints of non-availability of the travel document and the trouble of getting it when available.
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) said issuance of the enhanced e-passport is being handled at Nigerian missions and consulates in the UK and the US, according to a statement it issued.
The three passport categories are:
- 32-page five-year validity
- 64-page five-year validity
- 64-page 10-year validity
The NCS explained the steps to get the passport as follows:
- Visit passport.immigration.gov.ng
- Fill form and make payment online
- After successful payment book appointment date
- Print appointment slip
- Visit pre-selected mission and consulate with all required documents
- NIN is mandatory for applying for the e-passport
- NIS said timeline for processing epassport is 5 weeks for fresh applications and three weeks for renewals
Making the process easier
The NIS launched last year the Electronic Temporary Passport for diaspora Nigerians returning home whose national passport is not available, per reporting by Nairametrics.
It later launched an enhanced e-passport which it said will improve passport application process at home and abroad.
The NIS said the process of obtaining a passport was riddled with challenges, from the shortage of booklets to touting, with an economy of corruption built around it.
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NIS creates record, issues 625K passports
Up to 625,000 passports were issued by mid-June this year alone by the NIS in response to agitation by citizens who face frustration at home and abroad in their bid to acquire the travel document.
Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola said the enhanced e-passport is the real deal, a product of the latest technology in passport administration and issuance.
He made the point at the launch of the new e-passport for Delta and Edo at the Passport Office Headquarters in Benin.
“Our enhanced passport is the real deal in passport making. Today’s event is unique in many ways. The most important is making the enhanced e-passport available to the good people of Edo and Delta States.
“The enhanced e-passport comes in various categories, including the 64-page 10-year validity passport which is quite convenient for frequent travellers. It is a product of the latest technology in passport administration and issuance,” Aregbesola explained, per a statement issued by his media aide Sola Fasure.
“This year alone, we have received about 750,000 applications out of which we have provided 625,000.
“The difference could have been due to many reasons, including failure of applicants to provide the correct information about themselves and matching their data with NIN. We could not contact them because they applied through touts who provided their own addresses or wrong ones altogether.
“But 625,000 is a huge and unprecedented figure, in less than half of the year, by any stretch of the imagination.”