The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has raised concern and is investigating reports of unprofessional conducts at its passport offices across the country.
This was contained in a press release e-signed by NIS Public Relations Officer, DCI Aridegbe Adedotun, on behalf of the Comptroller General of Immigration, dated October 13, 2023, entitled “Alleged unprofessional conducts at passport offices”.
According to DCI Adedotun, NIS Comptroller General, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, decried some complaints of misconduct levelled against personnel in some Passport offices across the nation.
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.
The Honourable Minister and the Ag. CGI provided different phone numbers to the general public to report misdemeanors by NIS personnel at any of NIS offices as follows: 08028320751 (SPRO), 08067761196 (SA – SERVICOM).
The management assured that it is not only ready to answer calls but to resolve issues as well.
The Service said that it has on a daily basis monitored the compliance level at all Passport offices nationwide and at its missions abroad.
Adedotun said: “We receive daily reports on 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, 110 October,2023.”
Adedotun, meanwhile, informed the general public that applications for reissuance of lost Passport and change of data takes a longer time and that some applicants in this category may put the Service in bad light when they complain of delay and noncompliance with the new timeline.
“These applications are required to go through security clearance and correspondence with Service Headquarters before approval for production,” Adedotun noted.
In the meantime, the Acting Comptroller General appealled to members of the public to contact the Service through its various public communication channels including Twitter, Facebook handles (dmigimmigration) or contact center on 09121900655, 09121556359, 09121477092 to report any form of misconduct by any member of the workforce for appropriate sanctions.
Adedotun enjoined prospective Passport applicants to visit the Nigeria Immigration Service’s official website to apply for Passports and make payments for their preferred Passport categories and avoid patronizing individuals or entities that request cash payments for Passport services.
