By Nzeh Frankwhite (Canada), Ojobo Christain (Germany)
The fact that Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is rated by even the worst critics as the star minister under the present administration of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu is to state the obvious.
Going by some of the instant revolutionary actions he embarked upon the moment they were sworn. His case was a typical example of hitting the ground running with articulated focus and direction, which came with empirically verifiable results.
One of the lagging areas under his ministry that received immediate attention, among several others, was the passport office under the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), he declared as unacceptable the undue delays in the collection of new passport and renewals, to which he gave a matching order for the immediate dispensing of the backlog and the design of a new strategy that will ensue that Nigerians don’t waste precious time waiting endlessly for passport collection.
This came through as instructed by the minister and what hitherto seemed like rocket science became seamless, and today, Nigerians (home and abroad) are sharing multiple testimonies to that effect.
Some of the merits of the new reform are;
An e-filing system – Eliminates manual filing of applications.
An error proof application process – Totally eliminates application and NIN errors that are usually committed by applicants as both NIN and Passport data will be verified at the application stage by applicants.
.fast release
Fresh passport takes a maximum of 6 weeks while the renewal takes a maximum of 3 weeks, etc.
Among the categories of Nigerians who were worst hit by the undue delays and lack of due diligence on the passport process before this moment, were Nigerians living outside Nigeria, they had cried out on numerous occasions of the difficulties they went through in either renewal of the passports or applying for a fresh one.
In this report, our roving reporters across Europe and America went round to find out what the experience of Nigerians is presently compared to what it used to be. Enjoy!
Tobore Ejaife
Northern Cyprus
My brother, the difference is clear, and I am happy about the new development. Do you know that before this moment, all manner of people in this Cyprus were parading Nigerian passport and it made our passport look very common, worthless and without respect, but now you must go through a thorough process of certifying that you are a Nigerian and it helps in eliminating some of those errors of the past, gradually, the dignity of our green passport is being restored and the moment you fulfill all the relevant requirements, be sure to collect your passport, sharp sharp, unlike before.
I am very happy with whoever is currently handling this in Nigeria. He or she is doing a great job. Kudos
Mathew Ejike Emeribe. Vienna Austria
I am about to renew my passport because it has just expired, but from the experience shared by some people in our Nigerian community platform, it shows that a lot has changed for good, people are no longer grumbling and complaining like before, I think the new minister is doing a great job that is favoring those of us outside Nigeria. It has also made me less anxious, unlike before, considering the kind of anxiety that comes with the renewal of my passport
Kolawole Amolegbe
Calgary, Alberta. Canada
The way Nigerians in Canada are reacting to the issue based on how easy and stress free the leadership of the Nigerian High Comission in Ottawa has made it and, most importantly, the new minister of interior in Nigeria, I think it’s now something to cheer about. My passport will be due by this time next year (July), but the testimony of those who recently renewed their passports are enough to inspire hope in the process. We are told that the new minister of interior is a no-nonsense man of action. I don’t know much about him, but whoever he is, based on what I am seeing here in Canada, I think people are happy with what he is doing. I only hope it’s not a flash in the pan. You know Nigeria and the way we do our things, na.
Stanley Akujuobi
Florence, Italy
Yeah, I think the new man is doing a very great job, I recently renewed my passport, and it was very easy and seamless. Before now, whenever I want to renew my passport, it always comes with anxious moments for me, and most times, I had to travel down to Nigeria for that singular purpose, but that is no longer the case.
This one has a lot of ways it is restoring the integrity of our Nigerian passport, and the moment you do the needful, they will issue you your passport in record time.
At least I have something to cheer about as a Nigerians. This is a good means of integrating those of us living outside Nigeria. Also, remember to tell them to introduce diaspora voting in the next election. God bless whoever is propelling the new arrangement. It’s a good development.
Chukwudi Nwankwo
Duisburg Germany
The new automated passport system has made it easy for us to renew our passports with out the usual stress, as long as you are able to meet up with all the necessary requirements, latest 3 weeks, you will have you passport ready, unlike what we used to have. I am particularly happy with the new arrangement, especially because of the security processes to wardoff infiltrators and strengthen the confidence of those of us carrying the green passport. They should keep it up. I have not visited Nigeria since the new minister came in, but I hear that beyond this passport issue that he has done more to revamp the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), may be when I visit in December, I will.confirm for myself
Okey S. Okoroafor Texas, USA
I can tell you for free that the new passport process regime is working very well, I got mine renewed, faster than i thought and did not experience the kind of hassles that were hitherto associated with passport renewals. It seemed like I was processing a different kind of document from the US and not Nigerian passport because this was not what we were used to.
As much as I have several issues to count against the present administration in Nigeria (mainly because of the hardship in the land), I must give them credit for this, especially because it had been a recurrent issue for those of us living abroad, irrespective of our contributions to national development, it looked as if we were not treated fairly, but at the moment, we can authoritatively tell our people that their is hope. If this could work, so much more can still work when the people with the willpower are placed in the saddle
Sarah osaigbovo
Ottawa Canada
Yes, I can confirm that the passport processing experience among Nigerians living in Canada is now far better than what we had in the past, and I must thank those responsible for this new positive development. Our people are very pleased with the new development.
Please help us tell the government to do something about the present hardship in the country, abeg, those of us abroad are the ones facing the heat. Every call from home is about financial support, and the situation is not abating. Please tell them that corruption should be eliminated by all means possible for Nigeria to grow
God bless Nigeria
Mr Ginika Maduagwu California, USA
My past experience was not pleasant at all, and so many of my friends all have similar ugly experiences, but today, the situation has changed, though I am yet to renew my passport because it is yet to expire, but the experiences of so many of my friends and relatives that have renewed within this period shows that there has been a remarkable change and we are happy about it, making me to feel comfortable that when my time comes, I won’t have any challenge. I thank the people who made this happen. Those of us in diaspora are appreciative of this.
Hamishu Jubril, Manchester, UK
I was privileged to hear the minister speak about the planned new automated passport policy and how it would turn things around.
As usual, I thought it was another political statement by the insincere Nigerian political leaders, but to my consternation, shortly after that declaration at the NIDCOM convened stakeholders session, I started seeing testimonies from many of our people who had gone to renew their passports singing brand new songs of a new season of numerous positive developments coming with the new automated passport regime.
The takeaway for me isn’t just the record time for passport delivery, but the fact that it is secured to the fact that non Nigerians now find it very difficult, almost impossible to frivoliously adopt Nigeria and get the green passport when they are not Nigerians, like was the case in the past. Kudos to the new team