The Nigerian Immigration Service on Tuesday postponed resumption of issuance of new passports as well as applications from 1 June till 8 June.
Recall, that issuance and applications were initially scheduled to commence today, June 1, 2020 after it was halted May 17, 2021.
A statement titled ‘Clearance of backlog of passport applications,’ issued by the by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Amos Okpu said The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede announced the new date at the NIS headquarters in Abuja during a media chat.
The statement read in part, “A huge number of applicants are already turning up to collect their passports across issuing centres and this is causing some forms of congestion.
“This situation will not allow the Service to accommodate new applications especially considering our desire to ensure that people who come to our offices comply with all the COVID-19 protocols.
“Consequent upon the above, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has extended the commencement of the new passport regime earlier scheduled for June 1, 2021 by one week till June 8, 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 all of full commitment to improved service delivery to all passport applicants and others.”
Features of the new Passport application and processing regime set to commence from 8th June 2021
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• Applicants shall visit http://immigration.gov.ng to apply, pay&upload all the required documents for Passports;
• Book interview/appointment after a successful online application;
• That no applicant who have not booked online appointment shall be attended to;
• That no cash payment to anyone shall be entertained in any Issuing Centre;
• That Passport application processing and issuance shall take a period of Six weeks after a successful enrollment;
• That requests for reissue can be submitted Six Months before expiration.
The reforms come at a time that many Nigerians have been highly critical of the government over its handling of registration for passports.
Some have to wait for four months to get their passports after registration, blaming the problem on scarcity of booklets.
