The Federal Government said it would embed security operatives at various passport offices across the country to curb extortion, hoarding of international passport booklets and other corrupt practices among the officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) across the country.
The government also said that it is reviewing the entire international passport application process by NIS to six weeks.
A statement by Towoju Rapheal, Senior Information Officer, Ministry of Interior, stated that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior, disclosed this on Thursday at a meeting with the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mohammad Babandede, Passport Officers, as well as attaches in Nigeria Missions abroad in Abuja.
Aregbesola added that an ombudsman would also be created for members of the public to receive complaints and reports on officers trying to deviate from prescribed guidelines and subversion of the process.
He said: “They will wear body cameras. They will detect and report any form of solicitations, inflation, improper communications, extortion, diversion, hoarding and other corrupt practices. Those caught will be dealt with according to the law.
“Therefore, I am declaring a zero-tolerance stance to all forms of touting. No applicant will be made to pay any illegitimate fees.”
Besides, the statement hinted that the government was reviewing the international passport application process by the service to six weeks.
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