The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced its initiative to automate the passport application process, aiming to alleviate stress and minimize delays experienced by Nigerians.
This disclosure was brought to light by Caroline Adepoju, the Acting Comptroller General of NIS, during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
Adepoju pointed out that the Service is committed to eliminating any human interface during passport application and renewal procedures.
He stated, ‘One thing Nigerians know about the Nigeria Immigration Service is the issuance of the Nigerian passport and we know the number of Nigerians that have applied for passports in the past two years have been very high and unprecedented.’
‘But be that as it may, the service is working hard to ensure that we meet the expectations of Nigerians. Number one, we are automating our passport application process; we are trying to ensure that we cut out human interface.’
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‘Our applications are available online and we are trying to sensitise our applicants that they should go online for these applications to avoid patronising louts.’
The NIS also said, ‘The passport is a security document, it will take some time before they are issued. There are a number of processes like carrying out security checks, address verification, among others.’
Adepoju’s counsel to Nigerians was to commence the passport renewal process six months ahead of the expiration date and to avoid waiting until an urgent need arises for fresh applicants to initiate their application.
‘So, I try as much as possible to let people know that if you are renewing your passport, don’t wait until it is completely expired. You can start your application process when you have six months validity on it. Then for fresh applicants, they don’t have to wait until the very last moment when they need the passport,’ she added.
In terms of processing duration, Adepoju mentioned that a fresh passport application takes approximately six weeks, whereas a renewal can be accomplished in three weeks.
Adepoju said, ‘Presently, considering the crowds in our passport offices, I’m trying to put up a memo to the appropriate quarters that something should be done about renewal as it is done in other climes.’
‘Once we have your data, we should be able to renew your passport by online application without necessarily going into the passport offices; that will reduce the crowd. So, visiting passport office will be left to only fresh applicants who need their data to be captured.’
According to Adepoju, the Service is actively striving to facilitate passport renewal without applicants having to physically visit the offices, given that their data is already on record.