Interior Minister Launches Passport Front Office In Auchi

The Federal Government has launched an additional Pass­port Front Office in Auchi, Edo State, as part of its effort towards effective service deliv­ery to Nigerians. This is just as it promised to launch a home delivery service of passport.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who spoke at the opening of the Nigeria Immigration Service Passport Front Desk Office in Auchi, Edo State, on Saturday, said it is the intention of the Government to provide pass­port for anyone desirous of it within reasonable time at af­fordable price and without any stress.

According to him, the launch of another Passport Front Desk Office is significant as the Ni­gerian Passport is a proof of existence especially for those outside the country as Inabili­ty to produce it on demand may bring untoward consequences.

He said: “What we are doing here is significant for two main reasons. The first is the right and the necessity of Nigerians, especially those in the diaspora to hold the Nigerian passport.

“Except for those travelling outside the country or intend to, most of those who hold the passport do so for identification purposes.

“For some, it is also a thing of pride to be able to brandish the green back of the passport. But for those outside the coun­try, the passport is the proof of their existence, and the inabili­ty to produce it on demand may bring untoward consequences.

“The government therefore wants to provide the passport for anyone desirous of it within reasonable time, at affordable price and without any stress whatsoever.

“The second is the need, flow­ing from the first, to break out of the regular.”

The Minister also promised to conclude negotiations with NIPOST on the usage of its speedy mail service to start de­livering passport to Nigerians who opt for such service.