The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s passport application process.
In a media briefing marking his first year in office on Friday in Abuja, Tunji-Ojo said a passport automated system would be pre-launched soon and becomes fully operational by October.
He said: “We are going to pre-launch these automated systems very soon. By October, they will be fully operational. In London, for instance, we have 16,000 Nigerians applying for passports, while the capacity of our systems at the Embassy is about 200.
“But now that we have this system in place, Nigerians will no longer need to undertake multiple journeys across the world to acquire a passport.”
“We now have about 80,000 passports in stock, including both the 32-page and 64-page booklets.”
The minister stressed that the plan was designed to address the tedious processing passport applications, particularly for Nigerians living abroad.
Passport application challenges
In the past, Nigerians faced significant hurdles in obtaining passports. For instance, in London, 16,000 Nigerians were waiting to apply, but the embassy’s capacity was limited to just 200. This led to multiple journeys across the world, causing inconvenience and hardship.
New automated system
The upcoming automated system promises to address these issues. With 80,000 passports already in stock, including 32-page and 64-page booklets, Nigerians can expect a smoother application process. The new system will eliminate the need for lengthy travels, ensuring that passports are accessible to all eligible citizens.
Background
Nigeria has been working to improve its passport services. The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) previously cleared a backlog of 204,332 passports.
The NIS also urged applicants to collect their passports from designated offices. These efforts demonstrate the government’s commitment to streamlining passport applications.
What to expect
By October, Nigerians can anticipate:
– Fully automated passport application process
– Increased efficiency in processing applications
– Reduced need for travel to obtain passports
– Improved accessibility to passports for eligible citizens.
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