The Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has directed the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), to halt application of new or renewal of passports nationwide until June 1, 2021. The directive was contained in a circular sent to all NIS offices nationwide, signed by Deputy Comptroller General (PTD) AB Yarima on behalf of Comptroller General of Immigration Service.
The circular explained that the directive to suspend all new passport applications is to allow time to clear all backlog of applications sequel to the commencement of new passport regime on June 1, 2021.
“Consequent upon the foregoing, all PCOs are therefore directed to utilize this period, 17th of May to 31st of May, 2021 to ensure that all backlogs are produced and handed over to command comptrollers for collection by members of the public concerned,” the circular said.
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It added that “new application for passports, whether fresh or renewal, are by this circular suspended till June 1st, 2021.”
Following growing complaints by Nigerians, Aregbesola recently announced new steps the Ministry of Interior is taking to mitigate the difficulty in getting passports. They include special centres, which will run on public-private partnership basis for expedited services. The minister promised to augment the existing special centre in Abuja with 10 more that will be opened in coming weeks, paving way for more of such centres to be opened all over the country.
In addition to the step, a timeline for the collection of passport will be fixed for every application. It will be six weeks. This is to allow for enough time to investigate, verify and validate personal information supplied by the applicants, the minister said.
However, this development means that those with urgent passport issues will have to wait until the end of the month.
Over a week ago, Aregbesola announced the launch of the Temporary Passport (TP), to replace the former Emergency Travel Certificate. The aim is to ease the burden on Nigerians whose passports have expired and need to travel to Nigeria. It is a one way travel document which must be surrendered on arrival.
The suspension of new passport applications means that those who fall in this category of the passport crisis will have to wait until the end of the month.
