Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has announced that all Passport Issuing Centres have been directed to clear existing backlog of applications on or before 31st May, 2021.
Aregbesola said the directive was issued to permanently curb the complaints of difficulty in obtaining Passports from the NIS.
With the new directive, requests for fresh and/or reissue shall not be entertained with effect from 18th May 2021-31st May 2021 in all Centres except for locations in the Missions abroad.
A new Passport application and processing regime is expected to commence by 1st June, 2021
The statement read;
NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE IMPORTANT PUBLIC NOTICE All Passport Issuing Centres have been directed to clear existing backlog of applications on or before 31st May, 2021.
To this effect requests for Fresh and/or Reissue shall not be entertained with effect from 18th May 2021-31st May 2021 in all Centres except for locations in the Missions abroad.
Notifications for collection of produced Passports are already going out to applicants who indicated functional phone numbers in their applications.
Meanwhile, a new Passport application and processing regime shall commence by 1st June 2021. Critical features of the reform shall include the following:
*Applicants shall visit http://immigration.gov.ng to apply, pay&upload all the required documents for Passports;
*Book interview/appointment after a successful online application;
*That no applicant who have not booked online appointment shall be attended to;
*That no cash payment to anyone shall be entertained in any Issuing Centre;
*That Passport application processing and issuance shall take a period of Six weeks after a successful enrollment;
*That requests for reissue can be submitted Six Months before expiration.
Our Centres are working hard to resolve all backlog applications.
We therefore appeal to applicants who have been waiting for more understanding and assure that they’ll get their Passports soon.
Signed
Nigeria Immigration Service
May 18, 2021
