The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, has extended the commencement of the new Passport regime earlier scheduled for June 1 by one week.
Spokesperson for the agency, Mr Amos Okpu, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the service had announced the suspension of receiving and
processing of all fresh passport applications nationwide until June 1.
NAN also reports that the suspension was to allow for clearance of backlog of all passport applications received
before May 17, as all backlogs were expected to be cleared by May 31.
“Babandede wishes to inform the public, especially Passport applicants that the Service had made significant
progress in the clearance exercise of backlog of Passport applications.
“So far, we have cleared a total number of 230,500 applications and the Passports produced. Out of the number, a total of 43,350 are yet to collect theirs.
Okpu added
“We have directed Passport Control Officers to continue to send out short message notifications for collection to all applicants.”
The Immigration boss further directed that the details of all Passports that were yet to be collected be
uploaded on the service website www.immigration.gov.ng for the attention of the public.
“The extension is to clear up all backlog of Passport applications across Issuing Centres.
“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.
“We will use this period 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 which will commenced by June 8,” he said.
Babandede assured the public of full commitment to improve service delivery to all Passport applicants and others.
By Victoria E.I
Follow also;
https://broommedia.com/wp-admin/edit.php?post_type=post
https://www.facebook.com/broomsnews/