Immigration spokesman, Dotun Aridegbe a Deputy Comptroller
of Immigration who disclosed this in an exclusive chat with The Guardian noted
that: “The days of passports backlog are now over.”
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had given
the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) two weeks to clear the over 200,000
pending passport applications before it.
The minister gave the order during a meeting with the Acting
Comptroller-General of NIS, Caroline Adepoju, immediately he assumed duty in Abuja.
The meeting where the order was given was also attended by
Managing-Director, Iris Smart Technologies, Mr Yinka Fisher, the firm in charge
of the production of Nigerian passport booklets.
The minister had said the order was in fulfillment of his promise
to remove all bottlenecks in the acquisition of Nigerian passport and other
immigration documents.
In fulfilment of the minister’s order, the Acting
Comptroller General (CG) of Immigration, Mrs. Carol Adepoju Wura-Ola, had
activated full-scale implementation team of NIS heirachy, which recorded
tremendous success.
“Please help us tell applicants whose passports are lying in
various passports offices across the country to go and collect their passports.
We are working round the clock to make applicants happy.” He said.