In a recent virtual lecture organized by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) revealed that it issued a record-breaking 2,141,300 passports in 2023.
The Controller-General, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, attributed this surge to the increasing prevalence of the “JAPA syndrome,” which has fueled a significant rise in passport applications.
Adepoju highlighted the drastic increase in passport issuances, noting that while 1.3 million passports were issued in 2021 and 1.5 million in 2022, the numbers skyrocketed in 2023 with a staggering 100% increase.
She emphasized the NIS’s commitment to streamlining the passport application process through automation, significantly reducing human interaction and improving efficiency.
Since the implementation of the automated system, over 100,000 applications have been received online, with more than 80% processed seamlessly.
Adepoju underscored that this reform would alleviate pressure on NIS facilities nationwide, where applicants, including children and vulnerable individuals, often endure long wait times for processing.
Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, assured Nigerians in the Diaspora of improved passport acquisition processes, heralding an era of Renewed Hope in service delivery. Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM, commended the Minister and the CGI for their swift achievements, emphasizing the importance of enlightening the diaspora community about the automated passport process.
