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The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has said it is considering the review of the validity period of Nigeria passport from 5 to 10 years, following the complaints the service has received from the international community regarding the lifespan of the passport.
According to Leadership News report, the Comptroller General of Immigration (CGI), Muhammad Babandede, made the disclosure on Saturday in his office while answering questions from pressmen.
Babandede added that as part of the reforms he had promised to make in NIS, he will ensure that the review of the validity period is looked into speedily.
“I have also received complaints from the international community on the 5 years validity period of Nigerian passport. On that note, we are making effort now to extend it from 5 to 10 years validity period,” he said.
The Immigration boss who was appointed in May 2016 also explained that the recent scarcity and delay in issuing International Passports to Nigerians was being caused by high exchange rate.
He said the crisis set in when contractors were left with huge differentials as Dollars suddenly appreciated against the naira, making it difficult for previously awarded contracts to be executed.
“You know the exchange rate has changed. Prices of everything have changed even Nigerian made goods. But even if you produce the passport booklets in Nigeria, most of the components to produce them will be brought in — the chips, the security papers and others. But I have tabled the issue before Mr. President and hopefully, we anticipate positive response.”
Lamenting the existing bureaucracy and corrupt practices in the process of issuance of Visa in Nigeria, the CGI vowed to stop bureaucracy and corruption in the system, while reviewing Visa issuance processes.
“One of my reforms is to stop the existing bureaucracy and corruption in issuance of Visa in Nigeria. The process of reviewing Visa is already in progress for the benefit of Nigerians.”
“I have also received complaints from the international community on the 5 years validity period of Nigerian passport. On that note, we are making effort now to extend it from 5 to 10 years validity period,” he said.
The Immigration boss who was appointed in May 2016 also explained that the recent scarcity and delay in issuing International Passports to Nigerians was being caused by high exchange rate.
He said the crisis set in when contractors were left with huge differentials as Dollars suddenly appreciated against the naira, making it difficult for previously awarded contracts to be executed.
“You know the exchange rate has changed. Prices of everything have changed even Nigerian made goods. But even if you produce the passport booklets in Nigeria, most of the components to produce them will be brought in — the chips, the security papers and others. But I have tabled the issue before Mr. President and hopefully, we anticipate positive response.”
Lamenting the existing bureaucracy and corrupt practices in the process of issuance of Visa in Nigeria, the CGI vowed to stop bureaucracy and corruption in the system, while reviewing Visa issuance processes.
“One of my reforms is to stop the existing bureaucracy and corruption in issuance of Visa in Nigeria. The process of reviewing Visa is already in progress for the benefit of Nigerians.”
