Nigeria Immigration Suspends Requests For Passport Booklets Till June 1

Nigeria will not accept new applications for international
passports until old applications are attended to, the Nigeria
Immigration Service (NIS) has said.

While addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the
comptroller of NIS, Mohammad Babandede, said the agency would
commence accepting new applications from June 1.

Mr Babandede said the directive was given by the Minister of
Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

“The process of receiving and processing all fresh passport
applications nationwide is suspended till 1st June 2021, when the
new passport regime would have taken effect,” he said.

“The suspension of receiving and processing of fresh passport
applications is to allow for clearance of every passport
application that was received before 17th of May 2021.”

He said all payment portals have been closed till June 1 and a
task force will be sent to passport offices to clear the
backlog.

Mr Babandede said deputy comptrollers have been deployed to all
passport centres to monitor the process and ensure the directive is
followed.

New applications will be granted in six weeks from the time of
application, he said.

Mr Babandede decorated senior officers of the NIS who were
recently promoted.

Nigeria will not accept new applications for international
passports until old applications are attended to, the Nigeria
Immigration Service (NIS) has said.

While addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the
comptroller of NIS, Mohammad Babandede, said the agency would
commence accepting new applications from June 1.

Mr Babandede said the directive was given by the Minister of
Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

“The process of receiving and processing all fresh passport
applications nationwide is suspended till 1st June 2021, when the
new passport regime would have taken effect,” he said.

“The suspension of receiving and processing of fresh passport
applications is to allow for clearance of every passport
application that was received before 17th of May 2021.”

He said all payment portals have been closed till June 1 and a
task force will be sent to passport offices to clear the
backlog.

Mr Babandede said deputy comptrollers have been deployed to all
passport centres to monitor the process and ensure the directive is
followed.

New applications will be granted in six weeks from the time of
application, he said.

Mr Babandede decorated senior officers of the NIS who were
recently promoted.