Don’t patronize touts, NIS tells passport applicants

The Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Osun State Command, Mr Adebowale Idowu, has appealed to applicants seeking international passports not to pay to touts who pose as agents to dupe applicants.

He said this in a chat with our correspondent who visited the immigration office in Osogbo to seek clarification on the allegation that the NIS in the state was collecting N40,000 from applicants as against the authorized amount of N19,500.

Idowu expressed worry that most of the applicants chose the touts who would collect double the fixed amount, saying such money paid to the touts did not come to NIS and that the Service should not be blamed for the consequence of such wrong payment.

“People who patronise the touts would be accusing Nigeria Immigration Service of collecting exorbitant amount for passport whereas the money was paid to the touts, not the NIS. We have been appealing to applicants to come directly to our office and get the passport at the appropriate amount,” he said, asserting, If any of our officials collect money wrongly from applicants, such officer would be seriously dealt with. If you have evidence against any Immigration officer that collects money illegally from applicants, please, inform us and we shall deal with such officer.”

The Assistant Comptroller of Immigration in charge of passport in Osun State, Prince Adedayo Oyinlola who made further clarification, reiterated that the actual amount for passport at the immigration office was N19,500 for adult and the aged and minor paid less.

Oyinlola said, “The official payment for passport for adult is 19,500 payable online through bank and which may attract bank charges.

Various banks charge various amounts. We don’t have control over that. The actual amount that comes to NIS is N19,500. In fact, a minor below the age of 16 and the aged of over age of 60 pay less, just about 10,500.”