The Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Caroline Adepoju, has ordered an investigation into allegations of misconduct by officers in some passport offices across the country. This move comes as the NIS aims to address the concerns raised by the public regarding the noncompliance with ministerial directives on the timeline of passport administration.
Issuing a statement on Saturday in Abuja, NIS spokesperson, Adedotun Aridegbe, confirmed Ms Adepoju’s directive for an immediate investigation into the matter. The focus of the investigation will be to ensure adherence to the new two-week timeline for processing and issuance of passports, as announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on October 4.
“The minister and the NIS provided different phone numbers to the general public to report misdemeanors by NIS personnel at any of the NIS offices. The service has, on a daily basis, monitored the compliance level at all passport offices nationwide and at our missions abroad,” Ms Adepoju stated.
She further revealed that the majority of passport offices are currently producing passports for applicants who enrolled on Wednesday, October 11. However, Ms Adepoju clarified that applications for reissuance of lost passports and change of data may take a longer time due to the necessary security clearance processes and correspondence with Service Headquarters.
In light of these issues, the NIS boss urged the public to utilize the service’s communication channels to report any form of misconduct by NIS personnel. These channels include the NIS Twitter and Facebook handles (@nigimmgration), as well as the contact center on 09121900655, 09121556359, and 09121477092. By reporting such incidents, the NIS can take appropriate action and administer the necessary sanctions.
This move demonstrates the NIS’s commitment to improving professionalism and efficiency within the passport administration process. It also ensures that the public’s concerns are properly addressed, thereby enhancing the overall quality of service provision by the Nigeria Immigration Service.
