Immigration services integrates South- South states into e- passport facility

Segun Oladipupo The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) said it had rolled out enhanced electronic passport facility for states in the South South region of the country.In a statement by Amos Okpu, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration Service and its Public Relations Officer, the Comptroller General Idris Jere has enjoined prospective users of the facility to ensure that they utilise the Service’s online platform to apply and make payment for any Passport category of their choice.The CG made the disclosure at the roll out of the enhanced Passport and commissioning of the central passport production centre in Port Harcourt.According to Okpu, the Immigration boss stated that the Service had deliberately enabled a seamless online application and payment process to discourage all forms of cash transactions which often times promote sharp practices. He enjoined Passport applicants to embrace the online system and warned that management will deal decisively with any Personnel found involved in any cash transactions for Passport applications.

He noted that “The enhanced ePassport facility we are rolling out here today is one of such ongoing reform efforts to transform the entire Passport process and offer improved options to our citizens.

” With the roll out today, all our Passport Offices in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and of course Rivers States have been fully migrated to the enhanced ePassport platform’, With the roll-out and commissioning of the production Centre, Passport applicants who intend to process their applications in any of these States are expected to complete their forms online (via passport.immigration.gov.ng), make payment and book appointment for biometric enrolment and only visit the Passport Office they have indicated for enrolment on their appointment date.