Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has confirmed that waiting times for international passports will now be reduced to less than two weeks
On September 7, the minister issued a two-week ultimatum to the NIS, instructing them to clear all pending passport applications
He announced that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) successfully resolved the backlog of 204,332 passport applications.
Addressing the public on Wednesday, October 4, in Abuja, Minister Tunji-Ojo provided an update on the nation’s passport application backlog. He assured Nigerians, stating, “Gone are the days of waiting for two weeks to receive your passports. If you’ve applied and been processed, your passport will now be ready within a period of two weeks.
He further stated that: “Immigration service did three shifts to make sure that we clear the backlogs and to ensure that never again in the history of Nigeria, are we going to have a backlog. This is not a temporary relief but a permanent solution.”
Further said, “People will be able to upload their passport and supporting documents online. Only biometrics will be taken at the passport office.
Also, He added: “People will be able to upload their passport and supporting documents online. Only biometrics will be taken at the passport office.
Also, “We are introducing passport front offices where people can go and process their passport close to where they reside. Solution providers have been given three months to activate this or their contract will be revoked.”