The Nigerian Immigration Service has announced a state of emergency concerning passport issuance throughout the country.
This declaration was made by the Acting Comptroller General of NIS, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, during her visit to Lagos.
The aim of this state of emergency is to address the difficulties faced by Nigerians when obtaining their passports.
Tony Akuneme, the spokesperson for NIS, conveyed this information in a statement.
In response to numerous complaints from Nigerians regarding delays in passport renewal and issuance, the Senate had previously instructed its interior committee to investigate the reasons behind these issues.
“The Ag. CGI’s visit to Lagos encompassed significant events that underscored the gravity of the Passport crisis.
“She inaugurated a state-of-the-art visa-on-arrival lounge at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, demonstrating her commitment to improving the overall travel experience for visitors entering Nigeria,” part of the statement read.
NIS has stated that the declaration of a state of emergency on passport issues reflects the service’s renewed dedication to resolving the difficulties encountered by Nigerians who are trying to acquire passports.
“Following this, she paid an unscheduled visit to the Alausa passport office to assess the situation firsthand.
“In her address, Ag. CGI Adepoju emphasised the necessity to dismantle all man-made bottlenecks that impede the passport application process.
“She further stressed that the NIS top management is fully committed to addressing institutional and technology-based drawbacks to ensure more efficient and streamlined service delivery.
“The state of emergency declaration on passport issues signifies the renewed commitment of NIS to resolving the challenges faced by Nigerians seeking to obtain passports.
“It represents a call to action for all stakeholders to prioritise efficiency, transparency, and excellence in service delivery,” it added.
