Immigration has approved 204,332 passport applications in ten months – Minister

The Minister of the Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojomade this known while listing the achievements of his ministry in the past year at a media event organized by the ministry on Friday in Abuja.

He assured Nigerians that if the reform measure is in place, there will never be another passport backlog in Nigeria.

“Over the past year, we have introduced advanced border management technologies, including GIS (geographical information systems) and other surveillance tools and infrastructure, to enhance national security.

“This technology will enable better monitoring and control of Nigeria’s vast borders, ensuring our immigration services are prepared to meet modern security challenges.

“As you know, we have embarked on a comprehensive review of the passport issuance process, addressing long-standing issues that have frustrated millions of Nigerians.

“One of our key achievements was clearing a huge backlog of 204,332 passport applications, a backlog that has left many citizens stranded for months, if not years.” he said.

He said, “Today I am proud to say that we have not only tackled this challenge, but we have also introduced home delivery services for passports.”

Tunji-Ojo said the innovation was to ensure that Nigerians no longer have to endure the stress of traveling long distances or waiting in long queues, all in the name passport.

“Passports are now delivered directly to applicants’ homes, a service that has brought tremendous relief to thousands of people.

“The NIS has also implemented contactless technology, streamlining the passport application process and improving overall efficiency.

“The days of bottlenecks and endless paperwork are behind us. Today, Nigerians experience a faster, more transparent and seamless passport issuance process.

“We have also established an advanced data center at NOS with an impressive storage capacity of 1.4 petabytes.

“This state-of-the-art facility is designed to securely house and manage a wide range of critical national information, including the biometric data and personal data of Nigerian citizens,” he added.

The minister explained that the efforts were aimed at ensuring the secure storage and retrieval of sensitive information and improving the efficiency of national security operations, identity management and service delivery across the country.

Tunji-Ojo stated that the Federal Government had also commenced the installation of a total of 41 e-gates at the five international airports across the country for seamless screening of people arriving in the country.

According to him, eight will be installed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, 21 planned for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, and four at Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt airports.

“This is to provide diaspora Nigerians and returning citizens with an automated, hassle-free screening process. This innovation not only improves entry efficiency, but also ensures that our citizens abroad return home with pride and ease.

“We have also made tremendous progress in international cooperation by strengthening our partnerships with global agencies to combat transnational crimes such as human trafficking, illegal immigration and smuggling.

“These partnerships have strengthened our efforts to safeguard national security while contributing to the global fight against organized crime.

“Additionally, the integration of Nigerian passports into global standards (ICAO PKD and PKI) has further strengthened NIS as a major player on the international stage,he said.

The minister added that the initiatives were to improve both access and security, making Nigerian passports more secure and respected worldwide.