NIS promises seamless service delivery, commissions enhanced e-Passport office in Ilesha

0
1154

By Palma Ileye

Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has restated commitments to ensuring seamless service delivery and producing results that will meet the needs of Nigerians while making the best use of resources at its disposal.

This commitment was made yesterday by the Comptroller General, NIS, Isah Jere Idris during the commissioning of an enhanced e-Passport office in Ilesha, Osun State.

Speaking during the event, Jere stated that the enhanced e-Passport was significant to its drive for robust service delivery to the citizens of the country noting the, “We are aware of the challenges being experienced by some of our compatriots in accessing Passport services in recent times but with the various efforts being emplaced, such as the unveiling of the enhanced e-Passport here in Ilesa, these challenges will soon give way for the emergence of a more seamless Passport application and processing.”

He assured that effort were on-going to ensure more front offices were opened in other States to reduce the traffic.

He said, “I am confident that instances of delays in processing Passports will be reduced to its barest minimum as we roll-out this enhanced travel document today.
Today, Ilesa joins several other centres across the country and abroad including Canada, UK and USA that have been successfully migrated to the enhanced e-Passport regime.”

“Upon assumption of office, I made it very clear that NIS under my watch will strive to deliver quality services to our various publics. I highlighted 3 areas of focus including Passport administration, Border management and Welfare.

“The NIS is more than committed to producing results that meet the needs of our present day society while making the best use of resources at its disposal,” Jere said.

The NIS boss revealed that the enhanced e-Passport had more sophisticated security features over the electronic Passport, making it one of the most secured Passports in the world.

Explaining that, “it is of polycarbonate data page and has additional 25 security features The polycarbonate data page is also water-resistant. It is the latest Passport technology and very durable. It is difficult to forge as the improved security features will make any attempt is not only impossible but easily noticeable. Nigeria is the first country in Africa to migrate to this type of Passport.

“The travel document comes in three categories;
the 32-page Five-year validity category;
the 64-page Five-year validity category and;
64-page Ten-year validity category (adults only).”

He therefore advised applicants to abide strictly with the application guidelines and ensure that they make use of the online application and payment platform, passport.immigration.gov.ng, as well as confirming that their NIN details were exactly the same with their passport application details to avoid a situation where the applications are unable to be processed due to a mismatch of data.

Furthermore, the CGIS appreciated the efforts of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for the support in accomplishing the project while also extending gratitude to the Government of Osun State and people of Ilesa, especially the traditional and opinion leaders for their cooperation adding that, “I also appreciate the officers and men of Osun State Command for their strong commitment to national service and representatives of sister security and military agencies in the State for the existing synergy.”