Passport shortage: Nigeria Immigration service adjusts working days, closing tim…

• Nigerian Immigration has adjusted the working days and closing times of its operations
• The goal is to assist in clearing the backlog of uncollected passports and expediting the registration process for a new one
• The number of Nigerians applying for international passports is currently at an all-time high

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has directed passport offices around the country to open on Saturday in order to clear the backlog of passport applications.

This is according to a statement issued by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Tony Akuneme, on Saturday, 26 November 2022, in Abuja.

According to Akuneme, the Comptroller-General, Mr Isa Jere, who issued the instruction.

He also revealed that the immigration boss also authorized the relocation of the Passport Controller in Ekiti to Jigawa, while the one in Ondo was relocated to the NIS Zonal office in Ibadan.

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Immigration goes tough on officers

The Vanguard reports that Akuneme also stated that going forward, the CG will hold passport officers accountable for any acts of indiscipline by officers under their watch

He added that the directive enabled the Service to reduce the backlog occasioned by the 2020 and 2021 prolonged lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immigration officers’ new mode of operation

The statement from NIS spokesman reads:

“The C-G has directed that Passport offices across the country with high volume of pending applications to work on Saturdays.

“The period for this exercise is expected to be every Saturday commenncing from Dec. 3, 2022 to Jan. 28, 2023 between the period of 10 am to 2 pm.

“This is to enhance our service delivery to out esteemed clients.

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“The Saturday proceding the Christmas and New Year holidays are exempted.”

US ready to issue Nigerians 2yrs visa

Meanwhile, in another report, the US government has announced changes to its non-immigrant visas for Nigerians

According to a statement issued by the US Mission in Nigeria, non-immigrant visa renewal now has a 48-month eligibility

The US decision comes as the United Kingdom goes tough on Nigerians due to an increase in the number of student dependents

Source: Legit.ng