Immigration Service Sets Three Weeks Target For Passport Delivery
BY CHINYERE OBIORA – The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has set a three weeks target for international passports delivery to Nigerians after the submission of their applications.
Comptroller General of the Service, Mrs Caroline Adepoju, who gave the assurance on Friday said barring unforeseen technical issues, NIS is determined to change things around in terms of efficient service delivery to Nigerians.
Speaking at the unveiling of the Igbogbo Passport Front Office in the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu in Lagos State, Adepoju said; “I can tell you, barring all technical problems, you should be able to completely apply for your passport and within three weeks, you should be able to get it.”
However, she cautioned that it is important for all applicants to register with the same information currently available to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) because their national identity numbers would henceforth be linked to their passports.
According to her; “People who are applying for our passport must have similar details with which they are applying for the passport on their national identity numbers because the Nigerian passport has the national identity number on it.
“So, if there are no issues, within three weeks, you must get your passport, from application to the production of the passport”.
With the opening of the Igbogbo office her first official assignment following her confirmation as the substantive NIS Comptroller General earlier on Friday, Adepoju urged Nigerians whose passports were nearing expiration to apply for renewal six months before the expiration.
The NIS boss, who noted that some countries denied visas to applicants whose passports had less than six months to expire, urged Nigerians to always apply early for renewal.
In commending the leaders and people of Igbogbo for their support towards the successful citing of the passport office within the community, she further solicited their backing to enhance smooth operations at the office and assured the residents of excellent service delivery by the Passport Control Officer, Deputy Comptroller Muyiwa Odunubi, and his team.
In his speech at the occasion, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said citing of the passport office in Igbogbo was laudable as it was a testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to providing world-class services that aligned with global standards.
The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode, said the Igbogbo passport office can accommodate 200 applicants.
For the Chairman of the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area, Olusesan Daini, it is important to have the Comptroller General include the newly-inaugurated passport front office in the next upgrading process to a full passport office where passports would be produced.
Daini, who told journalists that maximum security would be provided at the facility, warned criminally minded individuals to steer clear of Igbogbo as the security agencies would not tolerate crime and criminality around the area.
He further assured thus; “Now that a passport office is here, the security of Igbogbo has become a federal affair.”
On his part, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, pledged the community’s ownership of the facility with a promise to give the Immigration Service all necessary support to ensure smooth and efficient operations at the passport office.
