INT’L PASSPORT ARREARS: 230,500 applications Passport cleared and produced- NIS
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Immigration Service has stated that a total number of 230,500 applications have been cleared and the Passports produced.
The Comptroller General of Immigration Service (CGI), Muhammad Babandede disclosed the information in a press release made available to News Dot Africa by the Public Relations Officer, ACI Amos Okpu, adding that Out of this, a total number of 43,350 are yet to be collected.
He said Passport Control Officers have been directed to continue to send out short message notifications for collection to all applicants who indicated functional contact details/numbers in their applications while efforts have been intensified to clear up the remaining applications in some Centres.
“As part of efforts to ensure that applicants are duly notified and encouraged to go for collection of their Passports, the CGI has further directed that details of all Passports that are yet to be collected be uploaded on our website www.immigration.gov.ng for the attention of the public. The Service is also deploying other media means to notify the public about this development”, Akpu stated
He explained that the huge number of applicants turning up to collect their Passports across Issuing Centres is causing congestion and will not allow the Service to accommodate new applications considering the COVID-19 Protocols.
“Consequent upon the above, the Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has extended the commencement of the new Passport regime earlier scheduled for 1st June 2021 by one week till the 8th of June, 2021. The period shall be used to attend to applicants for collection, clear all the remaining backlogs as well as improve systems automation for the takeoff of the new Passport regime effective 8th June, 2021.
“The Comptroller General of Immigration assures full commitment to improved service delivery to all Passport applicants and others” The Immigration Spokesperson concluded.
