The Minister of the Interior, Abba Moro, has urged the Nigerian Immigration Service to impress Nigerians by making passports available to applicants under 24 hours.
He said this would not only endear the service to Nigerians but it would also prove that President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda was realisable.
Moro said this during the inauguration of two newly-built applicant waiting lounges at the Ikoyi Passport office in Lagos on Monday.
While addressing officers, he said, “The Nigerian Immigration Service now has a target of 24 hours to issue passports and hopefully, it will be realised before the end of the year. That is the basis with which you shall be evaluated. It is not about just exams anymore but that is what I expect from you. If you want promotion, provide evidence of meeting this target.
“The service is rebranding as part of President Jonathan’s transformation agenda and we must strive to make things work, it will no longer be business as usual. I do not expect you to put obstacles in the face of applicants in order to extort money from them, I don’t expect you to encourage touts.
“If there is a transparent process of issuing passports, there will not be need for touts and our image will change in the eyes of the public. I encourage you to prove Nigerians wrong by doing the right thing. Prove to them that you can offer qualitative service without any incentive from them.”
While inaugurating the two buildings, the minister noted that the buildings were the brainchild of the Passport Control Officer, Modupe Anyalechi, who was determined to change the face of the passport office and alleviate the stress applicants usually go through.
He explained that the buildings were constructed by Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
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