Federal government has said that close to 60, 000 backlog passport have been cleared by the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS).
The clearance of the backlog passport was consequent of an order by minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, given to the agency to clear 200, 000 backlogs and do away with administrative bottlenecks making it difficult for Nigerians to get the document.
The minister made this known while receiving the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, on a courtesy call, yesterday in Abuja.
He said since he issued the directive, the NIS has cleared close to 60, 000 passports in four days.
“As at this morning, I can tell you that about 60,000 passport backlogs have been cleared, specially 59,906. On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, when I gave the 2-week ultimatum, we had over 200,000 backlogs. We have recorded progress, and I maintain my words, those backlogs must be cleared.
“His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed us to see the place of partnership as agents of his #RenewedHope Agenda, and we are here to deliver on this mandate.
“We assure you of our support. Your initiative is progressive and commendable, especially at this crucial time in the history of our country. There is a lot of work to be done, and we cannot work in silos as the President has directed.
“Thank you Dr Betta Edu. We are not just working on humanitarian endeavours as human trafficking, our NIS must help us change the story, completely.
“When we came on board, the passport crisis was an embarrassment. And, we said: it cannot continue, he claims”
“Thank you Dr Betta Edu. We are not just working on humanitarian endeavours as human trafficking, our NIS must help us change the story, completely. When we came on board, the passport crisis was an embarrassment. And, we said: it cannot continue,”
He urged the visiting minister to lend a hand of partnership to the fight against human trafficking and other related challenges including poor veterans’ welfare, underemployment and poverty amongst citizens.
On her part, Dr. Edu said the visit was prompted on the need for strong partnership to drive President Bola Tinubu’s target on poverty alleviation.
A statement from the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the minister of Interior, Also Babatunde, contains that
Edu said the interior the ministry was in the best position to solve issues of human trafficking as it plays a supervisory role on the Nigeria immigration service.
