The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) revealed on Tuesday that an impressive 2,141,300 passports were issued throughout the course of 2023.
According to dailytrust.com, the NIS Controller-General, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju disclosed this during the diaspora virtual lecture series with the theme, “New Passport Policy/Processes for Nigerians in the Diaspora Confirmation” organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).
The CGI disclosed that the JAPA syndrome has led to an unprecedented increase in the number of passport applications.
She said while 1.3m passports were issued in 2021, 1.5m representing about 50 per cent increase were issued in 2022.
But in 2023, there was over 100 per cent increase in application with 2,141,300 passports issued last year.
She spoke on the automation of the passport process to reduce human interface with the immigration officers, saying this has become a game changer for passport applicants.
The CGI stated that since the automation became live last month, over 100,000 applications were received online out of which over 80 per cent were processed without issues.
According to her, the reform of the passport process would reduce pressure on the overstretched facilities of NIS nationwide as applicants wait endlessly with their children and the vulnerable just to be captured.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said Nigerians in Diaspora would no longer go through pain just to acquire their passports.
He said this is the era of Renewed Hope and every Nigerian at home and abroad must enjoy improved service delivery from the immigration service.
Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, commended the Minister and the CGI for the milestones achieved within a very short time.
Dabiri-Erewa explained that the lecture was to enlighten the Nigerians in Diaspora on the process involved with the automation of the passport process.
