Toba Owojaiye reporting
The Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, has introduced a strict two-week timeline for Nigerian passport processing.
During a press conference in Abuja, he acknowledged that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) successfully cleared a backlog of over 204,000 passport applications within three weeks, slightly exceeding the initially promised two-week deadline, for which he apologized.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to fulfill its promises. He stressed that obtaining a passport is a right, not a privilege, drawing a distinction from visas, and expressed satisfaction in delivering this essential service to Nigerians.
The minister revealed the challenges faced by the NIS, inheriting a backlog of 204,332 enrolments without issued passports. He commended the collaborative efforts of the NIS and service providers in increasing printing capacity and maintaining round-the-clock operations to eliminate future backlogs.
He further stated that their goal is to ensure that no individual waits for more than two weeks to receive their passport. As of October 1, they had successfully cleared all 204,332 backlogs, with 91,981 passports already collected, leaving 112,351 available for issuance.
Tunji-Ojo urged Nigerians to collect their passports from NIS offices without paying bribes and provided contact information for reporting any officials involved in corrupt practices.
He emphasized the importance of upholding integrity in the passport processing system, reaffirming the government’s commitment to efficient service delivery.