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The minister of interior Rauf Aregbesola has thrown his weight behind technology for the faster processing of the Nigerian passport.
“With technology, it is possible to process and obtain the passport within 48 hours, if the application does not have any issues. Nigerian passport should be available within 48 hours maximum after application and at the official fee, the same goes for entry visa, resident permit, seamen license, as well as application and processing of other services”, Aregbesola said at the Comptroller General Management Retreat 2019.
“All officers of the Service must as a matter of urgency, embrace the digital tradition and be technology/computer compliant, particularly at the senior and management level.”
Application and processing of Nigerian passport can be a torturous process especially without using the help and influence of a top-ranking immigration officer or having to cut corners. The long queues at the passport office and the endless wait during processing also betrays an inefficient process.
At the retreat, the former governor of Osun State enjoined officials to discuss and choose a model and period it must take for a Nigerian to apply for and obtain the passport from the system anywhere in the world. He insisted the process has to be as fast as possible and with minimum human contact.
“Should there be justifiable delay in delivering on this commitment, there must be a mechanism to communicate, such reasons (s) within a period as agreed in the retreat to such applicant for the passport which must not be later than 72 hours, after discovering such reason.”
Aregbesola also launched the Border Management Strategy Document while clarifying that the primary role of the Immigration Service is the Security of the border and migration management.
“No unwanted, suspicious and criminal person must be allowed entry into our nation just as we are to prevent the exit from Nigeria of all known domestic real felons and or domestic potential felons from leaving Nigeria to tarnish our image abroad”, he said.
“Our officers must shun all forms of corruption through openness and transparency in the discharge of their duties.”
[The Guardian]
