Passport: FG lunches immigration express service

Chinazor Megbolu

The Federal Government has launched the express passport processing centre, an arm of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, during the occasion in Abuja, said the centre is expected to cater for citizenry seeking to obtain their passports within a maximum of 72 hours.

He explained the facility is the first of its kind and added that other centres will be open across the country soon.

Aregbesola, the former governor of Osun State, also pointed out that the speed of the passport processing is based on the option selected at the centre.

“It is a first of many more to be established and designed to offer specialised services to Nigerians.

“Every Nigerian has the right to a Nigerian passport and it is our responsibility to put it in the hands of anyone desirous of it within the shortest possible time, without stress.

“The passport should be available in a maximum 72 hours of a successful application. Where there are issues, the applicant must be notified within 48 hours. It will also afford Nigerians the opportunity of getting their passports within 24 hours, at the high premium service and 72 hours at the ordinary premium service, albeit with added value and a little bit of extra cost.

“A centre like this is necessary to reduce stress. Secondly, by minimising human contact, it eliminates the prospect of corruption.

“The commencement of the operations of this world-class facility will offer Nigerians services of convenience and pleasure by taking away the hitherto stress in the conventional passport offices.”

Meanwhile, the Comptroller-General, NIS, Mr. Muhammed Babandede, in his remarks, said the centre will offer effective and efficient passport services to applicants.