The logo of NIS and CG Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju (fsi) The Nigeria Immigration Service has responded to the public regarding the inaccurate information published by Crimewatchnewspaper on January 21, 2024, entitled "Nigerians Suffer from News Passport Automation Process."
The immigration service has issued a correction to address the misleading information shared by the news platform. According to Newsconnect, the Comptroller General of NIS, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju (fsi), visited the passport offices in Ikoyi and Ikeja on January 22nd, 2024. L
During her inspection, the CG issued a response to a published article and also addressed queries from journalists. Caroline mentioned; Caroline stated; Caroline expressed; Caroline declared; Caroline affirmed; Caroline voiced; Caroline commented; Caroline remarked; Caroline announced; Caroline claimed; Caroline mentioned; Caroline conveyed; Caroline disclosed; Caroline shared; Caroline asserted; Caroline articulated; Caroline spoke; Caroline pointed out; Caroline acknowledged; Caroline emphasized.
"We understand that it may take some time for everyone to fully accept the reformation of the passport application process. However, we want to emphasize that the automation of passport application is not new in the NIS. Additionally, we would like to reaffirm that the form aims to achieve the following objectives:" "I aim to decrease the level of human involvement in order to address the issues raised by applicants who have faced instances of extortion during the application process."
"Improve the procedure for passport applications while ensuring National Security is not compromised." "We need to establish a unified database for all our applicants." "Upgrade the complete procedure of applying for passports." "We urge our citizens to be patient and trust us as we work towards perfecting the process. Additionally, we would like to clarify that certain information in the publication is inaccurate. The purpose of this response is to rectify the misconceptions that have been conveyed to the general public," she explained.
"The following information provides a comprehensive account of the response." "That Nigerians are suffering due to the recent implementation of the automated passport process.
Response: The fact is that the choice to implement the automation of passport applications is not a recent one. The main change now is that the submission of supporting documents is done online. This decision has been made based on research and we have been achieving positive results. Until this morning, we have only encountered a 4% rejection rate of uploaded documents, which could be attributed to mistakes made by the applicants. Our customer support service is active round the clock and we promptly address any inquiries." The recent introduction of the passport automation process by Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, is not well-advised or well-timed. In reality, the Nigeria Immigration service, along with technical partners, service providers, and other stakeholders, collaborated with the Minister to develop this reform, which has been in place since the issuance of the enhanced e-passport in 2020.
The Honourable Minister and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service frequently receive requests for the full automation of passport applications, especially from Nigerian citizens living abroad. To illustrate this, let's consider a family of five or six residing in Winnipeg, Manitoba or Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, who need to renew their passports. They would have to travel to Ottawa, Ontario, the only passport issuing center in Canada. Taking into account the cost of flights, hotel accommodations, which could last several days, and other inconveniences, it becomes evident that a reform is necessary.
The same applies to Nigerians living in Scotland, Manchester, and Birmingham who have to travel long distances to London, UK to obtain their passports. Once the full automation of the application process is achieved, only new applicants will need to go to passport offices for their biometric data capture, as we already have an efficient and reliable data collection system in place. This scenario is applicable to any prospective applicant living far away from the passport issuing centers. Such reforms will ultimately save time and expenses for both applicants and the service. Some of the elements of technological advancement had negative consequences, as the new system hindered the ability of immigration officers to assist applicants.
Response: It is true that we have established an official support center, the contact details of which can be found on our website. The purpose of technology is to improve our services, and with time, everyone will find it user-friendly. Some applicants are unaware of the definition of ICAO.
ICAO refers to the International Civil Aviation Organisation. It is a global entity that offers guidance in aviation-related affairs and passport administration. Its key function entails establishing criteria for valid travel documents to combat document fraud and identity theft. Detailed instructions regarding the required size of passport photos can be found on our website. Half of the passport centers had insufficient power supply, with less than four hours available.
At present, all passport issuing centers have been equipped with power generators. The government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed, has allocated funds specifically for the installation of solar power supply systems, which will begin implementation this month. The solar source has already been successfully implemented in the Ikoyi passport office, thanks to the support from the Elumelu foundation. It is required for all adults to obtain a 10-year international passport, which costs approximately N85,000. However, it should be noted that citizens also have the choice of a 5-year passport priced at N35,000 or the 10-year option at N70,000. Response: The comment made by a senior officer regarding the necessary training, sensitization, and support system is deemed unprofessional and unofficial. It is expected that a disciplined officer should not communicate with the media unless authorized by CGIS and properly briefed. Response to comments on screening of foreigners and adoption: The process of screening individuals from other countries is handled by the National Intelligence Service (NIS), which is responsible for managing this task efficiently. The NIS ensures that all cases pertaining to child adoption and the associated passport applications are centrally processed at the Headquarters, guaranteeing fair treatment for each case based on its merits. In conclusion, the introduction of this initiative involves the joint agreement of various entities involved in passport administration, such as the Ministry of Interior, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the National Identity Management Commission, and the Technical Advisers and Service Providers. Additionally, prior to implementing this initiative, we also sought feedback and criticism from selected members of the public and non-governmental organizations. All we need is a receptive attitude and the determination to ensure the success of this procedure. The dedication of the Nigeria Immigration service to simplifying, safeguarding, and expediting the process of obtaining passports is stronger than ever. "Summary report of passport application status between 8th January 2024 and 21st January 2024." Since the implementation date (January 8th 2024), approximately 32,462 individuals have accomplished the tasks of applying, uploading necessary documents, and making payments. Out of this total, 16,113 have received approval for biometric capture and production. Meanwhile, 11,505 applications are currently awaiting approval, and 3,406 individuals have made payments but have not yet scheduled appointments. Additionally, 1,438 applications have been subjected to queries due to diverse reasons. Approximately half of the overall applications have undergone a successful process of approval for biometric capture, production, and issuance. About 35% of the applications are currently awaiting approval, while 11% have made payments but have not yet scheduled appointments. Merely 4% of the total applications have been returned to the queue but have ultimately been approved for biometric acquisition, production, and issuance.
0 Comments