The issuance of enhanced international passport in Nigeria has been modernized from analogue system to digital system and this is the new passport regime in Nigeria. Aregbesola has embarked on a journey where the importance of technology as a source of innovation has been identified as a critical success factor for issuance of passport in Nigeria. Aregbesola has started with getting rid of onerous paper-based passport procedures. For one, digitalizing international passport has proven to yield significant cost savings. Aregbesola has proved that he could shorten processing times for applications of international passports from three months to short period if he digitalized its processes. Instead of promoting mobility across nations, paper passport has become an instrument of exclusion. Before Aregbesola introduced enhanced passport, the Nigerian paper passport became one of the most travel-restrictive passports. The standard template for passports was created more than a century ago—and many argue that it’s due for a major rethink. Economists and open-border advocates point out that tethering one’s prospects to a paper-based travel document, has proven to be inefficient, costly, and ultimately inequitable. With enhanced international passport the stress associated with the application and collection of passports is now a thing of the past and Nigeria Immigration Service has issued more than 2.7 million passports in two years.
Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior has restated its commitment to improve passport application process for Nigerians at home and in diaspora, as he launched the new enhanced passport. The e-passport would reposition and improve the passport issuance regime, and tailor it towards best global practice. The new regime offers the options of five and 10-year validity to save Nigerians frequent visits to replace their passports. The E-passport had new security features, such as multi-laser image, pre-printed features, ultra-violet light, infrared, laser engraving, and is approved by International Civil Aviation Organisation.
The Enhanced E-Passport is part of the new reforms approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria. It is a product of intensive review of the existing e-passport booklet which has been in circulation for over 10 years and has only 5-year validity. Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has given an assurance on the official Rollout of the Enhanced e-Passport at the Nigerian High Commission in London, United Kingdom.
Aregbesola has revealed that the Nigerian passport is the highest affirmation of Nigerian citizenship, noted that it is the responsibility of Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide the passport without any stress, within a reasonable period. “What we have come to do here is symbolic of the core mandate of the Ministry of Interior and indeed, the Federal Government of Nigeria – affirmation of citizenship integrity. The Nigerian passport is the highest affirmation of Nigerian citizenship. It is therefore our responsibility to provide the passport without any stress, within a reasonable period.
Nigerians are happy and commended the Minister of Interior for the fast issuance of international passport in Nigeria. Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola, has assured Nigerians of obtaining their international passports within considerable time following the commissioning of the newly built Maitama Passport Express Centre (MPEC). The centre, located in Abuja, was established in partnership with the private sector. Aregbesola said it marked the beginning of the decentralisation of the issuance of passport and hinted that more of such centres would be built across the country to speed up issuance of the document.
“MPEC is in response to the yearnings of the general public for the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service to devise additional ways that the passport issuance process can be less stressful and more efficient. The goal is to have a facility like this in every local government in the country.
“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 after a successful application. Where there are issues, the applicant must be notified within 48 hours.”
The minister added: “The commencement of the operations of this world-class facility will not only offer Nigerians services of convenience and pleasure by taking away the hitherto stress in the conventional passport offices, it will also afford Nigerians the opportunity of getting their passports within a considerable time.
The former Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede, said the inauguration of the express centre was a step towards solving the problems associated with passport administration. “The Maitama Passport Express Centre (MPEC) is therefore, established to provide expedite and guaranteed service for applicants willing to pay a premium for prompt and convenient service.
“This centre will have a dedicated National Identity Number (NIN), registration unit and cater to the complete passport issuance process from enrolment to production for only fresh and re-issue passport applications.”
“Other categories of passport applications including change of data, replacement of damaged, lost/stolen passport and others shall continue to be processed at the Service Headquarters and other approved passport issuing authorities,” he said.
According to him, many of NIS officers had been dismissed, de-ranked and some were facing other disciplinary procedures for corrupt practices and loss of passport booklets.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has stated that passport within a short time is one of the achievements so far recorded under his ministry. “It is important to inform you that we have witnessed growing demand for the Nigerian passport both locally and by Nigerians in diaspora. A total of 2,742,207 passports of different categories were issued between 2019 to date.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has commissioned the Nigeria Immigration Service Passport Express Centre, Maitama Abuja which is established in partnership with the private sector. It is a first of many more to be established and designed to offer specialized 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 within a considerable time of a successful application. Where there are issues, the applicant must be notified within 48 hours.
A centre like this is necessary to reduce stress. Secondly, by minimising human contact, it eliminates the prospect of corruption. The Maitama Passport Express Centre which is established in partnership with the private sector. It is a first of many more to be established and designed to offer specialized services to Nigerians.
The centre will offer value added service to all Nigerians, irrespective of their status; socially, politically and economically. This implies that the centre will serve the Passport needs of Nigerians who may be desirous of Premium services.
This new step will further minimize human contact thereby eliminating sharp practices and enhance public health protocol in line with government’s efforts at combating COVID- 19. Former Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammed Babandede, described the center as a step towards solving problems associated with passport processing. He said “it will provide speedy and guaranteed service for applicants willing to pay premium charges.”
The Federal Government has said it is turning around the entire passport application process by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to a number of weeks timeline from 1st of June, 2021, so as to ensure seamless, transparent, as well as according human dignity to applicants and fulfil citizenship integrity, in line with the mandate of the Ministry of Interior.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Inwalomhe Donald writes via [email protected]
