It’s Abnormal To Produce Nigerian Passports Abroad, Reps Tell NIS

The House of Representatives has said that it was abnormal to
produce Nigerian passports outside the country in view of its
security features.

Rep Timehin Adelegbe, Vice Chairman, House Committee on Foreign
Affairs, said this at the public hearing on incessant malpractices
associated with diplomatic postings and deliberate draining of
resources on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the security features contained in the Nigerian
passport should be guarded, adding that printing of Nigerian
passports by a private firm outside the country was abnormal.

He said that most Nigerians were not happy with the process and
collection of passports, adding that it was high time the issue was
taken seriously and addressed.

In his reaction, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria
Immigration Service (NIS), Mohammed Babandede, said it was his
greatest desire to produce Nigerian passports within the
country.

“Our wish is to produce even a booklet of Nigerian passport in
our compound,” he said.

Speaking on the issue of nepotism in NIS foreign posting,
Babandede said that officers often go the extra mile to lobby their
way as they consider such posting the most lucrative.

He, however, said that since he assumed office, he had embraced
transparency on foreign posting as 50 per cent was reserved for
officers who attended training school and 10 per cent for officers
who had received award.

He said that Nigeria had 47 diplomatic missions across the
world, adding that officers are only saddled with issuing visas and
handling traveling documents.

Babandede added that fees realized from these were usually
remitted to the Federal Government, adding that contrary to the $40
million generated in 2019, in 2020 it generated $20 million due to
the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said that the extra charges being collected by Nigeria’s foreign
missions would soon be addressed, adding that it had been a big
issue.

He urged Nigerians abroad to be orderly and responsible in their
quest to obtain passports and other documents, adding that there
was need to respect Nigeria’s mission abroad.

Rep Yusuf Buba Yakub, Committee Chairman, said the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs remained the first mirror through which the entire
world see Nigeria, hence, “whatever happens to it must be of
concern to us.

“We must, therefore, resolve to work together to achieve the
Foreign Service of our fondest dreams; and the time to do this, for
me, personally, is today.

Rep Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, stated that there was hardly a country he visited
that there were no embarrassing stories in the country’s
missions.

” I visited many, right from my time as Minority Leader to House
Leader and I can recall such stories.

“Be rest assured that it is not the intention of the House of
Reps to act in a manner that singles out any one individual or
group, neither is it our desire to take punitive action as a matter
of politics.

“We will conduct a thorough review of what is, by every
standard, one of our nation’s premier institutions. And we will
work with all who bear a responsibility to try to fix what needs
fixing and rebuild what is broken,” he said.

Mr Jeofrey Onyema, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, commended
Babandede, adding that he remained one of the finest officers he
had met.

He blamed social media on some of the reports about Nigeria’s
foreign missions, adding that most of the story posted on social
media were not true. (NAN)

The House of Representatives has said that it was abnormal to
produce Nigerian passports outside the country in view of its
security features.

Rep Timehin Adelegbe, Vice Chairman, House Committee on Foreign
Affairs, said this at the public hearing on incessant malpractices
associated with diplomatic postings and deliberate draining of
resources on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the security features contained in the Nigerian
passport should be guarded, adding that printing of Nigerian
passports by a private firm outside the country was abnormal.

He said that most Nigerians were not happy with the process and
collection of passports, adding that it was high time the issue was
taken seriously and addressed.

In his reaction, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria
Immigration Service (NIS), Mohammed Babandede, said it was his
greatest desire to produce Nigerian passports within the
country.

“Our wish is to produce even a booklet of Nigerian passport in
our compound,” he said.

Speaking on the issue of nepotism in NIS foreign posting,
Babandede said that officers often go the extra mile to lobby their
way as they consider such posting the most lucrative.

He, however, said that since he assumed office, he had embraced
transparency on foreign posting as 50 per cent was reserved for
officers who attended training school and 10 per cent for officers
who had received award.

He said that Nigeria had 47 diplomatic missions across the
world, adding that officers are only saddled with issuing visas and
handling traveling documents.

Babandede added that fees realized from these were usually
remitted to the Federal Government, adding that contrary to the $40
million generated in 2019, in 2020 it generated $20 million due to
the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said that the extra charges being collected by Nigeria’s foreign
missions would soon be addressed, adding that it had been a big
issue.

He urged Nigerians abroad to be orderly and responsible in their
quest to obtain passports and other documents, adding that there
was need to respect Nigeria’s mission abroad.

Rep Yusuf Buba Yakub, Committee Chairman, said the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs remained the first mirror through which the entire
world see Nigeria, hence, “whatever happens to it must be of
concern to us.

“We must, therefore, resolve to work together to achieve the
Foreign Service of our fondest dreams; and the time to do this, for
me, personally, is today.

Rep Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, stated that there was hardly a country he visited
that there were no embarrassing stories in the country’s
missions.

” I visited many, right from my time as Minority Leader to House
Leader and I can recall such stories.

“Be rest assured that it is not the intention of the House of
Reps to act in a manner that singles out any one individual or
group, neither is it our desire to take punitive action as a matter
of politics.

“We will conduct a thorough review of what is, by every
standard, one of our nation’s premier institutions. And we will
work with all who bear a responsibility to try to fix what needs
fixing and rebuild what is broken,” he said.

Mr Jeofrey Onyema, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, commended
Babandede, adding that he remained one of the finest officers he
had met.

He blamed social media on some of the reports about Nigeria’s
foreign missions, adding that most of the story posted on social
media were not true. (NAN)