In a bid to enhance service delivery to its citizens, the Federal Government has inaugurated an additional Passport Front Office in Auchi, Edo State. This development is accompanied by the promise of a forthcoming home delivery service for passports.
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, during the inauguration of the Nigeria Immigration Service Passport Front Desk Office in Auchi, on Saturday, 20th May, 2023, expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring that anyone in need of a passport can obtain it within a reasonable timeframe, at an affordable cost, and without any undue stress.
He emphasized the importance of the Nigerian Passport, especially for those residing outside the country, stating, “What we are doing here is significant for two main reasons. The first is the right (and even the necessity) of Nigerians, especially those in the diaspora to hold the Nigerian passport… The government therefore wants to provide the passport for anyone desirous of it within reasonable time, at affordable price and without any stress whatsoever. The second is the need, flowing from the first, to break out of the regular.”
Aregbesola also disclosed that negotiations with NIPOST are in the final stages to commence the use of its speed mail service for delivering passports to Nigerians globally after production. He said, “We are in the final stage of concluding negotiations with NIPOST to begin using its speed mail service to deliver passports to Nigerians wherever they are in the world after production.”
The Minister acknowledged that Edo State ranks high in terms of passport applications in Nigeria and indicated that the waiting period between application and collection might increase due to the recent surge in demand. He explained, “Our current working schedule is that fresh application would take six weeks after biometric data registration and three weeks for renewal. This is reasonable, competitive and in line the global best practices.”
Aregbesola further revealed the Federal Government’s plan to open more front desk offices to increase registration centers and reduce the waiting period before biometric data capture. He added, “It is our projection that by the time we open more front offices like this, the waiting period will not be more than three days. Indeed, the more front offices we have, the less the waiting period. Our long term plan will be to involve private operators who will provide the lounge for a fee, but the equipment and personnel will be provided by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).”
The Minister commended the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for its improved services, which includes the issuance of top-quality passport booklets. He affirmed that Nigeria is among the first five countries in the world and the first in Africa to have the enhanced e-passport.
He advised applicants to apply directly through the Nigeria Immigration Service portal on any internet-enabled device and avoid going through third parties. He lamented the prevalence of a few unscrupulous officials subverting the system, cornering applications, inflating prices, extorting from applicants, and hiding already produced passports.
He urged applicants to plan ahead for their travels, as traveling requires long-term planning, whether for education, work, leisure, or migration, except for urgent national assignments or medical emergencies.
The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Isah Jere Idris, stated that the choice of Auchi is apt, as Edo State ranks fifth amongst states with the highest volume of passport applications locally. He said, “In the past 365 days, Edo state has processed 56,291 applications out of the 1.5 million passports produced in Nigeria. The commissioning of this front office will no doubt go a long way in reducing the traffic in Edo State and other neighboring States.”
During a visit to the Otaru of Auchi’s Palace, the Otaru, HRH, Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh, Ikelebe III, turbaned Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and then installed him as the Rafeeq of Auchi Sacred Kingdom. The traditional ruler revealed that the title means Ogbeni Aregbesola a bosom friend of the Auchi Kingdom.
In response, the minister declared that, “everything happening here today is a surprise to me. I am excited, happy and joyous because it is coming at the right time. The depth of my joy has no word to describe it. When I retire, I plan to always wear my turban as a true and proper Muslim,” the minister declared.
