The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has revealed that the Nigerian government is actively working on reforms aimed at simplifying the passport application process.
The goal is to introduce the possibility of Nigerians initiating passport applications online as early as December.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” programme on Wednesday, Minister Tunji-Ojo emphasised the necessity of these reforms to address the perceived disorderliness in the current passport application procedure.
The proposed changes signal a significant step towards modernising and streamlining the process of obtaining passports for Nigerian citizens, making it more accessible and efficient for the public.
“For me personally, I have said this to service providers; I said it today, I said it yesterday, and I have always told them, ‘You need to make life easy for people. We cannot, as a government, as a service, make things more difficult than they ought to be,’” he said.
“Part of the reforms that we are putting in place now, starting from December, is that even when you want to enrol for your passport, you fill your forms online, you do your payments online, and everything.”
The minister was responding to a question on international best practices for passport application and collection, compared to what obtains in Nigeria, and avenues to reduce Nigerians’ frustration in the application process.
In comparison to the passport application process abroad, the minister stated that only a biometric capture needs to be done in person, explaining that all necessary details can be submitted via a Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) portal.
“You do not need to go to the passport office to have your picture captured. People apply for American visas, people apply for UK visas, people apply all over the world. Your passport with the required specifications as directed by the NIS will be uploaded on the platform.
Tunji-Ojo stressed that the days of drawn-out enrollment procedures are long gone and unacceptable, adding that it is Nigerians’ right to experience a smooth procedure.
“The era of people sacrificing a whole day just because they want to go to a passport office for enrollment is over; it is unacceptable. You cannot inconvenience people based on their rights; it is the right of the people to have a seamless experience,” he said.
Recall On Wednesday, the Minister revealed that out of the initial backlog of over 300,000 international passports he inherited upon assuming office, a significant milestone has been achieved. Specifically, 204,322 international passports are now ready for collection. However, it was noted that only 99,901 of these passports have been collected by applicants.
During a press conference held in Abuja, Minister Tunji-Ojo encouraged Nigerians to promptly collect their outstanding passports. Furthermore, he shared plans for future improvements in passport distribution. The ministry is actively collaborating with immigration services and their vendors with the aim of ensuring that, starting next year, international passports will be delivered directly to the preferred addresses of Nigerian citizens. This initiative seeks to enhance convenience and accessibility for passport applicants.
