THE Nigeria Immigration Service on Friday said that barring unforeseen technical issues, Nigerians would get their passports three weeks after the day of submission of the application.
The Comptroller General, Mrs Caroline Adepoju, disclosed this on Friday while speaking to newsmen at the unveiling of the Igbogbo Passport Front Office in the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Adepoju, who said the opening of the Igbogbo office was her first assignment after her confirmation as the substantive Comptroller General of the NIS earlier on Friday, said, “I can tell you, barring all technical problems, you should be able to completely apply for your passport and within three weeks, you should be able to get it.”
She said it was important for every applicant to register with the same records they had with the National Identity Management Commission as their national identity numbers would be linked to their passports.
“People who are applying for our passport must have similar details with which they are applying for the passport on their national identity numbers because the Nigerian passport has the national identity number on it.
“So, if there are no issues, within three weeks, you must get your passport, from application to the production of the passport,” Adepoju added.
Earlier, she advised Nigerians whose passports were nearing expiration to apply for renewal six months before the expiration.
She noted that some countries denied visas to applicants whose passports had less than six months to expire; she, therefore, called on Nigerians to always apply early for renewal.
While appreciating the leaders and people of Igbogbo for their support towards the success of the siting of the passport office in the community, Adepoju assured residents of excellent service delivery by the passport control officer, Deputy Comptroller Muyiwa Odunubi, and his team.
She appealed for further support for smooth operations at the office.
Speaking earlier, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode, said the siting of the passport office in Igbogbo was laudable as it was a testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to providing world-class services that aligned with global standards.
According to him, the Igbogbo passport office can accommodate 200 applicants.
The Chairman of the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area, Olusesan Daini, appealed to the Comptroller General to include the newly-inaugurated passport front office in the next upgrading process to a full passport office where passports would be produced.
Daini, while speaking to newsmen, also assured of maximum security for the facility, warning criminally minded individuals to steer clear of Igbogbo.
“Now that a passport office is here, the security of Igbogbo has become a federal affair,” he added.
Also speaking, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, promised that the community would own the facility and support the Immigration Service for smooth operations.