CEM REPORT | As a means to ease passport application, the Ministry of Interior has created an online portal where applicants can track the status of their application.
The ministry said the system which is expected to fully roll out before the end of the year, would fully digitalise application thereby eliminating any form of stress in the process.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf- Aregbesola, revealed this during the passing out parade of the 47th Basic Superintendent Course, 20220221/ at the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) training school, Kano.
He added that the system would make passport application seamless and cut off touts and unscrupulous officials.
“We have also activated a tracking system that allows applicants to monitor and know the status of their application online. Let me reiterate my appeal to Nigerians to follow laid down regulations on passport application by going through the NIS online portal.
“Those who go through touts and unscrupulous NIS officials are undermining our effort to eliminate corruption and institute a stress-free application system. It is, therefore, your patriotic duty to go through the official channel and avoid any practice that subverts the due process.’’
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening internal security of which borders were an integral part, noting that without secure borders, no security measure can work.
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Aregbesola who was represented by Commissioner, Civil Defence, Customs, Fire Service and Immigration Board, Emmanuel Bassey, urged the personnel to put the training and indoctrination to use in manning the border, stated that external criminally-minded persons can infiltrate the country and escape at will if the borders are not well secured.
Recall that CEM reported the minister said apart from the National Identity Number verification and linking, there should be no other major reason for the delay in issuing passports.
He further stated that the Federal Government had concluded plans to launch a system that would lead to minimal interaction between passport applicants and immigration officers.
