THE Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has disclosed that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) produced about 1.3 million international passports in the year 2022 although about 300,000 is yet to the claimed.
Aregbesola made the disclosure on Monday, January 30, 2023, in the Alimosho LGA during the commissioning of the Alimosho Front Desk Passport Office, according to a statement by DCI Tony Akuneme the Public Relations Officer for the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The Minister said President Muhammadu Buhari gratuitously approved the roll-out of enhanced e-passports in more than fifteen (15) Passport Offices in Nigeria and at missions abroad. He further stated that the Nigerian passport is one of the most secure in the world, adding that Nigeria is among the five countries in the world issuing the enhanced e-passport which is adjudged as the most advanced and sophisticated travel document by world-class document experts.
According to the former governor of Osun State, “More than 1.3 million passports were produced in 2022 alone to Nigerians by the NIS out of which over 300,000 are awaiting collection at our various passport offices across Nigeria and some of our missions abroad.
“Today, Nigeria is among just five countries in the world issuing the enhanced e-passport which is adjudged the most advanced and sophisticated travel document by world-class document experts.”
While acknowledging the little glitches associated with the process of obtaining an international passport, he advised applicants to ensure that all inconsistencies in their National Identification Number (NIN) are resolved as it will continue to pose a challenge to the procurement process.
Present at the event were the Lagos State Governor, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the executives of Alimosho Local Government Council, traditional rulers, sister Paramilitary agencies, the military, and other well-meaning Nigerians.
