NIS To Open Enhanced E-Passport Centres In Zaria & Daura, As Ganduje Commissions a Central Production Centre in Kano.

By Fred Brains Last updated Jan 13, 2023

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has unveiled the enhanced e-Passport Central Production Centre for Jigawa, Katsina and Dawakin Kudu in Kano, as part of effort to bring improved Passport processing services closer to the teeming number of Passport applicants in Kano and its environs.
In a signed statement by the Service Public Relations Officer , DCI Tony Akuneme made available to newsmen in Abuja, the Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje while Commissioning the facility at Farm Centre area of Kano state, congratulated the Service for the many achievements recorded in recent times especially for being the first country in Africa to roll out the enhance e-Passport.
The Governor, who was represented at the event by the Kano State Commissioner for Budget, Alhaji Danazumi Grazo, applauded NIS for sighting the Center within the ancient city, noting that the choice of Kano was a great idea especially for the peaceful nature of the State.
Inn his remarks, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Isah Jere, reassured Nigerians that the passport reform process is still in progress, especially the fast track program designed specifically for those who returned from different parts of the globe for the Yuletide holiday.
Represented at the event by the Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Standard Passport, Sadat Hassan, the CGI said he was particularly happy with the positive feedbacks from the various Passport offices across the country, which shows that the people appreciate the novel initiative.He said“We intend to keep the two weeks processing timeframe open to all diasporas until January 31st when the program will come to an end.“
The CGI stated that the NIS is still committed to issuing Passports within the stipulated timeframe of three to six weeks, post biometric capture, where there are no technical hitches or application irregularities such as inconsistencies in the NIN of applicants.
He further emphasized that National Identity Number remains mandatory for the issuance of enhanced e-Passport and the information in both documents must match.
“We reiterate our official position that Passport applicants should please avoid using third parties but go online and make their applications and payments themselves at passport.immigration.gov.ng. We will continue to deal with the challenges of recalcitrant touts as well as few bad eggs amongst the personnel who are bent on sabotaging the reform process.” Here noted.
CGI Jere asserted that his management team remain focused on improving service delivery with particular emphasis on efficient and seamless Passport administration, border security and welfare of Officers and Men of the Service.
He used the opportunity to warn members of the public of the nefarious activities of racketeering syndicates who have gone a step further to even circulate fake news of Immigration recruitment exercise.
He also disclosed that the NIS is not recruiting at the moment and will always publish such recruitment as usual on national dailies, anytime it secure Federal Government approval for recruitment.