The Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola disclosed that passports would be issued in each of the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) nationwide to improve the process of passport collection. Mr. Aregbesola disclosed this at the newly inaugurated Maitama Passport Express Centre (MPEC).
Aregbesola said, "MPEC is in response to the yearnings of the general public for the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to devise additional ways that the passport issuance process can be less stressful and more efficient. It is the future. The goal is to have a facility like this in every local government in the country.
"Every Nigerian has the right to a Nigerian passport and it is our responsibility to put it in the hands of anyone desirous of it within the shortest possible time, without stress.
The passport should be available in a maximum of 72 hours of a successful application. Where there are issues, the applicant must be notified within 48 hours."
The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mr. Muhammad Babandede said "The Centre will have a dedicated National Identity Number (NIN), registration unit and cater to the complete passport issuance process from enrolment to production for only fresh and re-issue passport applications.
"Other categories of passport applications include change of date, replacement of damaged, lost/stolen passport and others shall continue to be processed at the service headquarters and other approved passport issuing authorities."
The NIS boss said last week the entire staff of NIS at Amana Passport office was posted out for misconduct regarding passport administration.
Mr. Babandede added that many of the NIS personnel were dismissed, de-ranked, and facing disciplinary procedures due to corrupt practices and loss of passport booklet.
