The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Tuesday disclosed that the service issued 2,141,300 passports in the year 2023.
The NIS Comptroller-General, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju disclosed this during the diaspora virtual lecture series with the theme, “New Passport Policy/Processes for Nigerians in the Diaspora Confirmation” organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).
The CGI disclosed that the JAPA syndrome has led to an unprecedented increase in the number of passport applications.
She said while 1,33,506 passports were issued in 2021, 1,597,729 representing about 50 per cent increase were issued in 2022.
But in 2023, there was over 100 per cent increase in application with 2,141,300 passports issued last year.
She spoke on the automation of the passport process to reduce human interface with the immigration officers, saying this has become a game changer for passport applicants.
The CGI stated that since the automation became live last month, over 100,000 applications were received online out of which over 80 per cent were processed without issues.
According to her, the reform of the passport process would reduce pressure on the overstretched facilities of NIS nationwide as applicants wait endlessly with their children and the vulnerable just to be captured.
He said the new passport policy was to ease passport application process, make it more effective and efficient, support the federal government process for unification of identity to prevent incidents of identity theft.
“Under the able leadership of our supervisory Minister, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) came up with the new policy as a response and solution to the numerous calls from Nigerians who daily encounter stress and dissatisfaction with the existing passport application process.
“The new process will reduce human interface between applicants, middlemen sometimes, Nigerian Immigration personnel and thereby eliminate the inconvenience associated with the process. This will also save both our personnel and applicants the loss of man hours associated with the old regime and our facilities too will not be overstretched.
“The Japa syndrome has impacted the nation in several ways , among which is that the NIS has experienced an unprecedented increase in passports applications.”
She stated that the data reeled out are pointers to the need for passport reform.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said Nigerians in Diaspora would no longer go through pain just to acquire their passports. He said this is the era of renewed hope and every Nigerian at home and abroad must enjoy improved service delivery from the immigration service.
“We have started it and we will make sure that Nigerians will no longer need to sweat, Nigerians will no longer need to go through pains before they acquire what should be their pride which is the Nigerian passports,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of providing top-notch service befitting Nigeria’s stature as the giant of Africa.
According to him, effective from the 8th of March 2024, Nigerians will benefit from a contactless passport application process, reducing the time required to complete the entire process to a maximum of seven to 10 minutes.
Chairman of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa commended the Minister and the CGI for the milestones achieved within a very short period of time.
She said the passport reform process initiated by the federal government would make passport application seamless for Nigerians in Diaspora.
She further highlighted the significance of the Diaspora Lecture Series in keeping Nigerians abroad informed about programmes and reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
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