The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) sorted out more than 204,332 passports in just 10 months says Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji Ojo.
He assured Nigerians that passports won’t be a problem anymore, with the reform in place.
“In the last year, we introduced advanced border management technologies, including GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and other surveillance tools and infrastructure, to enhance national security.
“This technology allows for better monitoring and control of Nigeria’s extensive borders, ensuring that our immigration services are prepared to face modern security challenges.
“As you are aware, we embarked on a comprehensive overhaul of the passport issuance process, addressing long-standing issues that have frustrated millions of Nigerians.
“One of our key accomplishments was clearing a massive backlog of 204,332 passport applications, a backlog that had left many citizens stranded for months if not years,” he said.
He continued,
”Today, I can proudly say that we have not only addressed this challenge but we have introduced home delivery services for passports.”
“Passports are now delivered directly to the homes of applicants, a service that has brought immense relief to thousands.
“The NIS has also implemented contactless technology, streamlining the passport application process and improving overall efficiency.
“The days of bottlenecks and endless paperwork are behind us. Today, Nigerians experience a faster, more transparent and seamless passport issuance process.
“We have also established a cutting-edge data centre at the NIS with an impressive storage capacity of 1.4 petabytes.
“This state-of-the-art facility is designed to securely house and manage a vast array of critical national information, including the biometric data and personal records of Nigerian citizens,” he added.
The minister said they’re trying to keep sensitive information safe and make national security operations more efficient.
Tunji-Ojo mentioned that the government is setting up 41 e-gates at the airports to make screening people who come to the country smoother.
He said they’re putting in eight at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja, 21 at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, and four each at Kano, Enugu, and Port Harcourt airports.
“This is to offer diasporan Nigerians and returning citizens an automated, hassle-free screening process. This innovation not only improves efficiency at entry points but also ensures that our citizens abroad return home with pride and ease.
“We also made tremendous progress in international collaborations by enhancing our partnerships with global agencies to combat transnational crimes such as human trafficking, illegal immigration, and smuggling.
“These partnerships have bolstered our efforts to safeguard national security while contributing to the global fight against organised crime.
“Furthermore, the integration of Nigerian passports into global standards (ICAO PKD and PKI) has further solidified the NIS as a key player on the international stage,” he said.
The minister mentioned that these initiatives would improve access and security, making Nigerian passports more secure and respected globally.