The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has stated that his ministry will create new centres for passport processing and collection, especially for Nigerians living abroad.
This is an attempt to alleviate the congestion at existing centres and expedite passport services both within Nigeria and abroad.
The minister disclosed this at the sixth Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit organized by Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative in Abuja.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the NIDCOM’s Media, Public Relations, and Protocols unit, Gabriel Odu, on its X handle.
The statement reads: “Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior said the ministry under his watch is set to create new passport processing and collection centres, especially for Nigerians in the Diaspora, to decongest the influx of people at the already established centres as well as fast track service operations in the country and in the Diaspora.
“The Minister gave this cheering news at the just concluded sixth edition of the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and the Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative (NDSI) in Abuja.
“Nigerians, especially Diaspora Nigerians, are to enjoy a seamless passport process and issuance system. The Minister also informed that a fully biometric immigration application process as obtainable in most foreign countries to reduce human contact and convenient passport collection is underway before February 2024.
“Nigerians at home and in the diaspora deserve the best. They don’t have to suffer or sweat to get the Nigerian Passport. ” The Interior Minister added that a team from the Ministry will kick-start supervision of the E8- Mandate in the UK as the first place on the assignment.
“He, however, urged the public to report any unethical behaviours by officers in the Ministry and its respective parastatals, as a deterrent to curbing the menace of corruption in the system and boosting effectiveness in service delivery to Nigerians.
“Tunji-Ojo, whose goodwill message received thunderous applause, assured Nigerians that they will start seeing positive changes before February 2024.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman/CEO, NIDCOM, commended the Minister for his positive disposition towards the plight of Nigerians in the Diaspora, particularly with passports issuance.
She said: “The key thing is, we have to encourage our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora to come home and invest by creating a conducive environment with these packages.”