Immigration introduces passport tracking system for improved services

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it has introduced a tracking system to improve the process of issuance and collection of passports.

Isah Jere Idris, acting comptroller-general, NIS, disclosed this on Saturday at a virtual media briefing.

In a statement, Idris said the system will allow applicants to track the status of their passports remotely, thereby reducing physical visits to NIS offices.

He added that NIS will also introduce a new system for the national identity number (NIN) validation.

“As part of the efforts to improve the process of issuance and collection of passports, the NIS has introduced a passport tracking system. With the system, applicants can now trace the status of their passports from the comfort of their homes,” he said.

“Within the next four weeks, NIS will deploy a new system that will enable applicants to validate their national identity numbers before they can proceed to make payment for passports online and to book appointments for capturing.”

Idris said applicants can log on to www.track.immigration.gov.ng and upload their details, adding that the “system is already in place and Nigerians should take advantage of it”.

Speaking on issues related to passport issuance, he lamented the increasing number of Nigerians seeking override of the newly introduced appointment system for passport issuance, describing it as an abuse of the system.

According to him, the appointment system was introduced to reduce physical interface with personnel, overcrowding and arbitrariness, which he said have all consistently combined to promote corruption and abuse.

He decried attempts by many Nigerians “seeking to jump the process by turning in myriads of requests for waiver for all conceivable reasons”, rather than wait for the appointment date for capturing.

He added that the NIS, based on the directive of Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, has tried to ensure “compliance” with the three-week duration for passport renewal and six-week duration for new applications.

Explaining reasons for delay in the processing of passport applications, Idris said it could be as a result of the integration of data between NIS and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), which also in turn integrates with the BVN data of applicants.

He said the single data integration policy of the government was aimed at enhancing the nation’s security architecture to protect the identity of Nigerians.

“Apart from this, because passports confer on holders the integrity of a nation, the integrity of producing such documents should also not be compromised,” he added.

“So, we must verify the addresses of the applicants and there is a company that already does that for us. We must confirm the authenticity of the claims before we proceed for production.”