…..urge applicants not to give out cash for assistance
The process is easy by simply visiting the passport portal to apply and pay via passport.immigration.gov.ng to apply.
The Honorable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has unveiled an electronic channel called Enhanced Electronic Passport Facility for the South East region where applicants seeking to procure the Nigerian Passports will no longer need the services of anyone.
And urged applicants not to give out cash nor patronize touts for assistance as the process is easy by simply visiting the Passport portal to apply and pay.
The Minister who stated this on Thursday in Enugu while unveiling the enhanced electronic Passport facility for the South East region said the main aim for the introduction of online application and payment option is to eliminate all forms of Passport racketeering, touting and clumsy processes.
Gwamcee news gathered this in a statement by service Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Amos Okpua and released to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, (NAOSNP)
The statement states that with the seamless online option, applicant can now sit in the comfort of their homes and offices and apply for any category of Passport, ”Passport applicants don’t need anybody again to get Passports; it is so easy to apply online and applicants will only be required to come to the selected Passport Office on the appointment date for enrolment.
“Passport applicants to visit the NIS Passport portal via passport.immigration.gov.ng to apply, complete the form, pay online and get appointment date for enrolment without assistance from anybody because many of such assistances tend to complicate the entire process. Applicants should ensure that they have their National Identity Number (NIN) and be ready to supply verifiable documents to enable easy processing of their applications.
“Prospective applicants for the enhanced ePassport should avoid giving out cash payments or patronizing touts for assistance as the process is easy by simply visiting the Passport portal to apply and pay. Members of the public should also utilize all available contact channels such as +2348021819988 and social media handles (Twitter&Facebook both @nigimmigration) to make enquiries or lay complaints,”
Earlier, the acting Comptroller General of Immigration Isah Jere Idris stated that the enhanced ePassport is the latest technology in Passport production and it comes in three categories of:
(i). 32-page, five –year validity;
(ii). 64-page, five-year validity and;
(iii). 64-page, ten-year validity.
The data page is polycarbonate and water-resistant. It has additional 25 security features over the ordinary electronic Passport.
He further explained that with the unveiling of the enhanced Passport and commissioning of the Production Centre in Enugu, all the five Passport Offices in the entire South East have been migrated to the enhanced Passport platform and enjoined holders of the ordinary electronic Passport not to worry as the two documents are valid and running concurrently.
Speaking earlier, the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government Prof. Simeon Uchenna Otuanya thanked the Nigeria Immigration Service for its valuable contributions to the security architecture of the State.
He lauded the introduction of the enhanced passport to the entire southeast while assuring the Minister that the State would continue to support all agencies in the State.
It will be recalled that the enhanced ePassport facility for the South West was launched sometime in December last year in the ancient city of Ibadan.
Plans are underway to extend the same facility to all the remaining geographical zones of the country.
