| The Nigeria Immigration Service,has reopened its passport payments portal for new applicants. NIS Comptroller General, Muhammad Babandede also said the new timeline for passport production and issuance after a successful enrollment at the selected issuing centre is six weeks for fresh applications and three weeks for re-issue. In a statement signed by the Service Public Relations Officer, Amos Okpu and made available to Channel Network Afrique, the immigration boss said the decision is to allow eligible passport applicants apply for various categories of Passports of their choice. He added that the Passport portal was closed following the directives of the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola on the 17th of May, 2021 to afford the Service the opportunity to clear backlogs of applications that have piled up across Issuing Centres. The NIS boss also noted that applications and payments for Passport services shall be made through the Service website www.immigration.gov.ng which applicants are expected to visit to apply and upload their support documents for vetting and processing. He further added that “a chat room facility to guide applicants through the application and payment process has been provided on the portal; upon successful applications, applicants shall make their online booking interview/enrollment appointment on any day, time and location they consider convenient”. Babandede however said no applicant who is yet to make online application and payment shall be allowed into any of the passport issuing centres for passport processing. While warning passport racketeers to desist from acts capable of undermining the reform efforts to avoid severe sanctions, the NIS helmsman called on passport applicants to desist from patronizing touts as the entire process has been made seamless for effective and efficient service delivery.  ReplyForward |
