Passport Production Is Being Delayed Due to NIN Linkage – Immigration Chief
The Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Isa Jere Idris, has revealed that the linking of the National Identification Number (NIN) has caused a significant delay in passport production.
In a statement issued on Sunday, May 8, Jere stated that the challenge of verifying NIN prior to passport issuance plays a significant role in the passport production line “and frequently accounts for the delays.”
He also stated that the Immigration Service is collaborating with the National Identity Management Commission to address the issue, and that passport applicants should ensure proper documentation and plan their travels ahead of time to ensure smooth processes.
It read;
“There are instances where some applicants approach our platform with some conflicting data from their original records in our system and of course, such cases are often difficult to resolve quickly.
“The integration of the online appointment system with the existing online payment system, has restored orderliness to the passport offices to a large extent, as applicants can now make payment and choose the appointment date and time which is convenient for them, thereby reducing the time they would have spent at the passport offices as each passport office has been allocated with a daily appointment capacity which was arrived at, based on analysis.
“It is pertinent to note that between January and April 2022, a total of 478,650 booklets have been distributed across the globe, and I can assure you that more than 10,000 Nigerians have benefited from this initiative and it is still ongoing”.
Jere also said the launch of the enhanced electronic passport in some parts of Nigeria and the United Kingdom had helped to ease the tension created by the backlogs.
Jere reiterated the NIS’ commitment to the consequence management mechanism, assuring that any personnel found to be undermining reform efforts would face disciplinary action.
