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The Federal Government is seeking ways to address the problem of shortage of the 32-page and 64-page passport booklets currently facing the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) by intensifying efforts to offset over N10 billion debt owed providers/vendors for printing of passports booklets.
The government is working in partnership with the authorities of NIS to ensure that the required fund to off-set the debt is sourced early enough to avoid public uproar over the delay in processing passport applications.
Consequently, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is leading the government team while the Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap, is heading the NIS team to address the challenges.
Investigation shows that between 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, not less than 105,000 e-passport booklets have been printed -35,000 copies of 32-page and 70,000 copies of the 64-page passport booklets.
However, the NIS has not been able to meet the high demand for the e-Passport by Nigerians, a development resulting from the shortage of the 32-page and 64-page passport booklets.
The authorities are worried that the reforms introduced by Tunji-Ojo, on assumption of office, may be jeopardized if the debt situation is not addressed swiftly. Recall the minister started reforms to make applications and acquisition seamless for Nigerians and also ensured upgrading of facilities and commissioned more e-Passport offices within and outside the country.
Over 200,000 backlogs of passports were cleared within three months of Tunji-Ojo’s assumption of office. But recently, there had been complaints over delay in the issuance of passports to applicants even after the expiration of the stipulated period for the exercise. NIS sources said the delays are due to shortage of booklets as a result of huge debts to printers and other service providers.
Sources said the government has called for meetings of all stakeholders to address the financial challenges facing NIS. “Yes, the government and the NIS have called for dialogue on the part of all critical stakeholders. The government promised to do something regarding bureaucratic bottleneck which has been responsible for delays in payments for services rendered.
“There is another leg to the discussions. I think the Nigeria Customs Service and the Immigration Service are working in synergy as government institutions in other to address the challenges since both are expected to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“I believe on the basis of the synergy, (payments or no payments) the booklets in the warehouses of the Nigeria Customs Service would be released to the NIS very soon.
“I must, however, commend the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his tenacity and strength of character. He has raised the bar for excellent and exemplary service for the NIS. The first time we had this challenge, only God knows how he navigated the systems and ensure that Service providers and other vendors in the Passport value chain got paid.
“Of course I would not rule out the possibility of having the President’s ears or he enjoys his confidence. I also want to commend the vision and leadership of the NIS. It is heartwarming that they are leading the reforms. I just pray that the majority of the personnel would key into the on going changes.”
