NIS to activate NIN self-verification on its website within 4 weeks
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Passport applicants will be able to verify their National Identity Number (NIN) on the website of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) before the end of June to eliminate hurdles and quicken the issuance of the travel document.
Acting NIS Comptroller General Isa Idris said NIN verification has caused delay in issuing passports and the NIS has now integrated its system with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to facilitate verification.
He promised the system will be up and running within the next two to four weeks.
Idris said the NIS is trying to keep to the policy of three weeks for renewal of passport and six weeks for new application, but explained that verification, which includes verifying the house addresses of applicants, often extends the timeline.
He announced that online tracking has been deployed that enables an applicant check the status of his application and know whether his passport is ready before going to collect it.
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Integrity of passport process
Idris reiterated that “the passport is a document conferring nationality on you, so it must have integrity.
“The process to obtain that document should also have integrity because we have had situations whereby non-Nigerians were holding Nigerian passports because it was easy to get.
“With the new process now, we are ensuring that the passport has integrity and that is why we have to ensure that verifications are done before issuance.”
“The Minister of Interior [Rauf Aregbesola] has introduced a new policy of maximum three weeks for renewal and six weeks for fresh applications. But when going through all these processes, some passports may not be ready on the day they are given.
“We have a company that is handling the verification of house addresses. So, they must get back to us that they are able to validate the address you supplied before we go can ahead to issue the passport for you.
“To make the process faster, in the next two to four weeks applicants will be able to verify their NIN on our website. This means that before you can even begin the application you are able to verify your NIN by yourself on our portal.”
Idris explained that there are special circumstances that require emergency issuance of passports in a very short time and advised applicants for renewal to begin the process six months before the expiration of their current passports, per Nairametrics.
“Nigerians should not forget that they have six months to renew their passports because visa will not be issued on a passport that has less than six months, this allows you to start your renewal application earlier.”
Temporary e-passport
Abuja launched in 2021 an enhanced e-passport at the Nigerian High Commission in London to improve passport application process for Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.
Another Electronic Temporary Passport caters for Nigerians who want to return home but whose passport is not available.
