Immigration resumes issuance of passports

The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, has ordered passport offices nationwide to release processed passport to applicants. Babandede, in a statement yesterday by the NIS spokesman, Sunday James, said that the passport offices should take advantage of the gradual easing of lockdown as directed by the Federal Government.

Babandede had during the lockdown directed passport offices nationwide to clear all passport backlog for applicants enrolled for immediate issuance when the lockdown is lifted. “NIS has directed applicants to follow the NCDC directive on social distancing, wearing of face mask, washing of hands using soap, use of hand sanitisers among others at the point of collection of the passport,” the statement said.
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“Applicants are to be invited in batches via SMS, anyone invited will show proof of invitation before they are allowed into the premises which must coincide with the date scheduled for the respective applicant to turn up and collect their passport. Any passport applicant who did not receive SMS need not visit the passport office until they are invited via SMS to avoid unnecessary crowding and refusal of entry at the entrance to the passport offices.”