How new reform eases passport issuance – NIS chief

The acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Isah Idris, has said that the new passport reforms introduced by his administration have eased passport application and issuance for Nigerians.

Therefore, he said Nigerians should expect more reforms that would reflect in easier processing of the travel document.

Isah revealed this in Abuja at the decoration ceremony of the service’s newly promoted senior officers to the ranks of Assistant Comptroller Generals and Comptrollers of Immigration.

“While the Service under my watch is gradually but consistently migrating our passport issuing centres both locally and in the diaspora to the enhanced e-Passport, we have also been able to transform the process of passport application and issuance.

“This was made possible by the introduction of a queuing system that enables passport applicants to choose an interview date immediately payment is made on the application portal.

“This is helping management to regulate the passport process while also allowing passport applicants get an appointment date at their convenience,” the acting CGI said.

According to him, the agency has three areas of focus; e-border management, passport reforms and staff welfare.

He said the service had continued to improve by ensuring that no stone was left unturned in the attainment of these targets.

Idris explained, “Our statutory mandate as both law enforcement and service delivery agency demands that we masterfully deploy our best hands across service and operational windows to ensure that we regularly and consistently make enduring impressions on the minds of those we relate with.

“We are leaving no stone unturned in our pursuit to excellently discharge our mandate through priority attention given to human capacity development and timely promotion of officers and men.”

He added, “We have taken necessary steps including deployment of technology in the discharge of our duty.”

He tasked the newly promoted officers, comprising 11 ACGs and 35 Comptrollers, to bring to bear hard work, commitment, self-discipline and honesty and integrity among others, as a show of loyalty and dedication to duty.

According to him, promotion is a product of high-level exercise, hard work, commitment, self-discipline, honesty, integrity and above all, loyalty.

“Loyalty is the totality of the other virtues as those who must command must first learn to obey.

“Your new ranks automatically place you in positions to make critical decisions that will determine the fate of officers and men as well as the course of progress in the Service therefore as you wear your new ranks, your coordination, perspective and focus must be absolutely service centred, nationalistic, just and fair in all your dealings,” he said.

The Service Public Relations Officer, Tony Akuneme, who was promoted to the rank of Comptroller of Immigration, told journalists that the new rank is a call for greater commitment and service to Nigerians.

“All we need to carry out our tasks is dedication and passion and if you love your country, there is no way you won’t be able to put in extra effort and hours whether you are paid for it or not as long as you see the results.

“I am happy that with the help of the media, the narrative and perception of the Service is beginning to change, the NIS being in the news for the right and positive reasons and I am positive that this will continue even if I am given new responsibility,” Akuneme said.