- NIS advises Nigerians to use the online platform for passport applications to avoid complications and delays arising from third-party platforms
- The agency assures applicants that issues other than the NIN/passport form name mismatch will be promptly attended to
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has shed light on the reasons behind the delay in passport issuances, attributing it to discrepancies between the National Identification Number (NIN) and the names provided in passport forms. According to Mrs. Azuka Halliday, the Comptroller of Immigration Service, Enugu Command, such mismatches can extend the delivery time of passports beyond the recommended six weeks.
Mrs. Halliday made this revelation during the NIS 60th-anniversary celebration event held in Enugu on Sunday. To avoid complications and potential delays, she urged Nigerians to utilize the NIS online platform for passport applications instead of relying on third-party platforms.
She also assured applicants that her office would be responsive to addressing any issues other than the NIN/passport form name discrepancy, emphasizing the commitment of NIS to timely service delivery.
Highlighting NIS’s accomplishments, Mrs. Halliday mentioned that, as the agency turned 60, it had successfully fulfilled its core mandates, which include the issuance of passports and other travel documents, border surveillance and patrol, enforcement of laws and regulations, and more, providing crucial services to Nigerian citizens.
Discussing the National Migration Policy, she revealed that Nigeria adopted it in 2015 to optimize the benefits of international migration and acknowledged the country’s significant role as a major origin, transit, and destination point in global migration patterns.
“For effective implementation of the global migration policy, NIS is now saddled with the role of border management, ensuring national border security, seamless regular migration and economic development of the country.
“NIS has developed a streamline building programmes for its workforce nationally that would ensure proactive, effective and efficient service delivery as well as introduction of modern technology to enhance its operations.
“All these innovation is to keep our borders safe,” she explained.
Mr Okey Ezugwu, a retired NIS staff who delivered the anniversary lecture, described Nigeria’s Immigration Law as the most liberal in the world because of its friendly nature.