Nigerians should get passports in two weeks — Minister

• Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, reports clearing 55,000 out of 200,000 passport backlogs, aiming for two-week passport processing once cleared
• Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Betta Edu, pledges soft loans for widows of security personnel and skills development programs for inmates

Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, announced on Tuesday that 55,000 of the 200,000 passport backlog had been cleared.

He added that more would be cleared before the end of the two-week deadline set for the Immigration chief and that once the backlogs are cleared, Nigerians should be able to obtain passports in two weeks.

He spoke during a visit to his office in Abuja by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu.

This was stated by Afonja Ajibola, Director of Press at the Ministry of Interior.

He said;

Nigerians must not be relegated from being citizens of Nigeria by denying them a passport.

He reiterated his belief that we must get it right now, adding that he receives updates every morning; and that this very morning, he is been briefed that about 55,000 passports have been cleared, out of the 200,000 passports backlog he instructed to be cleared in two weeks.

He then assured that by the time the backlogs are cleared, Nigerians will start enjoying the efficient service of having their passports issued within two weeks upon application.

Speaking, Edu promised soft loans to widows of slain Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Immigration Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, and Federal Fire Service personnel.

She also promised that inmates at correctional facilities would be empowered through skill development programs.

She said;

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Beta Edu, said her Ministry’s Mandate has been expanded to cover more Nigerians, who are about 16 million who are susceptible to insecurity leading to their displacement, thereby causing humanitarian crises.

She also said her ministry is ready to intervene in the provision of soft loans to the widows of deceased NSCDC, correctional officers, men and officers of Nigeria Immigration Service and Fire Service officers. According to her, inmates of Correctional facilities will start enjoying similar intervention through a skills acquisition programme.

She, however, said since the Federal Fire Service is an agency under the supervision of the Ministry that also responds to disaster, her attention will also be given in that direction; while NSCDC’s role in security intelligence will also be activated as part of the joint partnership.