The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has extended the commencement of the new Passport regime earlier scheduled for June 1 by one week from the earlier schedule of June 1, 2021, to June 8, 2021.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of NIS, Mr Amos Okpu, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede on Tuesday, in Abuja
The reason for the extension is to “clear up all backlog of Passport applications across Issuing Centres.”
The Nigerian Immigration Service in May suspended the processing of new passports or reissue across the country to allow for the clearing of the existing backlog of applications.
The suspension which took effect from 18th May 2021 in all centres except for locations in the Missions abroad, was expected to end on 31st May 2021.
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The Statement read:
“In furtherance to the Ministerial directives to clear all backlog of passport applications across issuing centres, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede MFR, wishes to inform the public, especially Passport applicants that the Service had made significant progress in the clearance exercise of the backlog of Passport applications.
So far, a total number of 230,500 applications have been cleared and the Passports produced. Out of the number, a total of 43,350 are yet to be collected.
Passport Control Officers have been directed to continue to send out short message notifications for collection to all applicants who indicated functional contact detail numbers in their applications, while efforts have been intensified, to clear up the remaining applications in some centres.“
Babandede directed that details of all Passports yet to be collected should be uploaded on the service website, for the attention of the public, adding that the service is also deploying other media means to notify the public.
“The extension is to clear up all backlog of Passport applications across Issuing Centres,” the statement continued.
“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.
“This period shall be used 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 commence by June 8.”
He assured the public of full commitment to improving service delivery to all Passport applicants and others.
Public Notice👇 pic.twitter.com/gUVgjeSgNS
— Nigeria Immigration Service (@nigimmigration) June 1, 2021
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
