The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has assured Nigerians that there will be no delays in the collection of passports, revealing that over 80,000 passport booklets are currently available for issuance.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Friday, Tunji-Ojo emphasized that passport reserves have not fallen below 50,000 in recent times, and the backlog of pending passports has been cleared. He added that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is up to date with payments to its service providers for passport printing and supply.
He announced that Nigerians living abroad, particularly in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, would experience a more seamless process for acquiring passports starting in October, with the introduction of an Automated Application system.
This new system will eliminate the need for Nigerians to travel long distances between countries for passport services.
Regarding the recent increase in passport fees, Tunji-Ojo explained that the adjustment is based on a cost-benefit analysis and is necessary to cover the procurement costs, given the current exchange rate between the naira and the dollar.
He clarified that the fee increase, from ₦35,000 to ₦50,000, applies only within Nigeria and does not affect fees for passports issued abroad.
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