The Federal Government has activated a passport tracking system that allows applicants to monitor and know the status of their application online.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf- Aregbesola, said this during the passing out parade of the 47th Basic Superintendent Course, 2021/2022 at Nigerian Immigration Service training school, Kano on Tuesday.
“One of the challenges of the NIS in recent past is in the issuance of the Nigerian passport. I am however, happy that we have overcome this and have now put in place a seamless passport administration system.
“We have also activated a tracking system that allows applicants to monitor and know the status of their application online,” he explained.
Represented by Commissioner, Civil Defense, Customs, Fire Service and Immigration Board, Emmanuel Bassey said before the end of the year, the service would have a fully digital application system that would remove any stress in the process.
“Let me reiterate my appeal to Nigerians to follow laid down regulations on passport application by going through the NIS online portal.
“Those who go through touts and unscrupulous NIS officials are undermining our effort to eliminate corruption and institute a stress-free application system.
“It is therefore, your patriotic duty to go through the official channel and avoid any practice that subverts the due process,” he noted.
The minister said that their engagement into the Nigeria Immigration Service reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening internal security of which our borders were an integral part of.
According to him, without secure borders, no security measure can work, external criminally minded persons can infiltrate the country and escape at will, if the borders are not well secured.
He said that diseases spread also from one country to the other through cross border movements.
Aregbesola urged the personnel to put the training and indoctrination to use in manning the boarder.
“You need to know what the organisation you have joined, the NIS, is all about.
As you have been taught, your main mission is to man the nation’s borders,” he added
He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the ministry and by extension the Nigeria Immigration Service.