Senate to probe delay in renewal, issuance of international passports

The senate has directed its committee on the interior to investigate the complaints of delay in the renewal and issuance of international passports to citizens by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

There have been complaints by Nigerians that they could not renew or get fresh passports from the NIS.

But the NIS has cited the lack of booklets as part of the reasons Nigerians have experienced difficulties in getting new passports or renewing their old ones.

The directive of the senate followed a motion sponsored by Uche Ekwunife, senator representing Anambra central, on Tuesday.

Ekwunife said many Nigerians were still facing challenges with passport processing, despite the six weeks time frame given by the federal government about a year ago.

“The international students are also finding it very difficult to renew their passports to enable them to travel back to reunite with their families,” the lawmaker said.

Contributing to the debate, Biodun Olujumi, senator representing Ekiti south, said it was embarrassing that Nigerians would have to wait for six weeks before they could be issued a passport by the service.

Olujimi said the motion was “timely” because it was important that the problem was resolved quickly.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan put the motion to a vote and the senate adopted it.

The committee on the interior is expected to report back in two weeks.