Immigration probes passport offices over non-compliance with 2-week processing timeline

Caroline Adepoju, the comptroller general of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), says she has ordered an investigation into the alleged non-compliance of personnel in some passport offices with the two-week processing timeline.

On October 4, the federal government directed that passport processing should not exceed the period of two weeks.

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, had said passports would be delivered to Nigerians at their homes and offices from February 2024.

In a statement on Saturday, Adepoju expressed concern over the unprofessional conduct of the personnel in some passport offices across the country.

“The comptroller general of Nigeria Immigration Service, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju has received with deep concern, some complaints of misconduct levelled against our personnel in some passport offices across the nation,” the statement reads.

“The comptroller general has ordered an investigation into the matter, especially in regards to the noncompliance with ministerial directives on the timeline of passport administration.

“Following the complete clearance of passport application backlogs nationwide in line with the directive of the honourable minister of interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, a new timeline of 2 weeks for processing and issuance of passport was announced by the minister on the 4th of October, 2023.”

She added that the service has been monitoring the level of compliance with the two-week timeline by passport offices across the country.

“The service has on a daily basis, monitored the compliance level at all passport offices nationwide and at our missions abroad,” she said.

“We receive daily reports on the production and issuance of passports from all passport control officers.

“As at today, Friday 13th October 2023, most of our passport offices are producing passports of applicants enrolled on Wednesday, 11th October 2023.”

She urged applicants to stop patronising individuals or entities that request cash payment for services, adding that Nigerians should report the unprofessional conduct of its personnel to any of the NIS offices.