Passport shortage: Interior Minister deploys printers to US consulates

…promises seamless passport regime

By Ukpono Ukpong

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has taken swift action to address the shortage of passport printers at the Nigerian Consulates in Atlanta and New York, United States.

This development follows the receipt of a petition calling for an urgent resolution to the lingering issue affecting Nigerians abroad.

In response, the Minister has approved the immediate deployment of new passport printers to both consulates.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has been directed to install the printers without delay.

This short-term measure is aimed at alleviating the current difficulties faced by Nigerians in these locations.

Hon. Tunji-Ojo also revealed that the Ministry is implementing a long-term solution to revolutionize Nigeria’s passport system.

A significant part of this strategy includes the activation of a Passport Personalisation Centre in Abuja, which is expected to commence operations in the coming weeks.

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This initiative will also extend the use of a contactless application system to more countries, building on its initial launch in Canada.

The Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Interior, under his leadership, is committed to overhauling the passport application process.

He highlighted ongoing efforts at the NIS, which include the automation of the entire process, ensuring efficiency and reducing the bottlenecks previously associated with passport issuance.

The contactless application system, which has gained traction internationally, is designed to provide Nigerians with a seamless and user-friendly experience. This innovation aligns with the government’s vision of leveraging technology to improve public service delivery while safeguarding national security.

“The Ministry of Interior under the Minister is working round the clock, and none of the agencies is left behind. At the Nigeria Immigration Service, for instance, there has been an end-to-end automation of the passport application process and the introduction of the contactless application process, which has since been launched in Canada.

“The Minister assures that the government of President Bola Tinubu remains committed to ensuring that Nigerians experience #RenewedHope laced with innovation and convenience while still enhancing national security.”