The Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Mrs Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju has pledged to urgently address the shortcomings in the nation’s border security and passport processing systems, assuring of immediate action plan to address the issues.
The Acting CGI, who made the disclosure today to newsmen at the 60th anniversary celebration of the Service in Abuja, lamented the inadequacies of resources for marine Border Patrol, emphasizing the urgent need for jetties, gunboats and lifejackets to adequately safeguard the coastal states against illegal migration.
Adepoju while addressing the frustrating delays in passport procurement by Nigerians, overcrowding and racketeering in passport offices within the country and in the diaspora, assured that the service was working with relevant bodies to ensure sufficient booklets and expedite passport issuances.
“We have disciplinary measures in place for people who are found wanting in the discharge of their duties and people who are involved in sharp practices. And we will continue to do things like we are going to provide boxes in most of our past in our passport offices, where I will be the one who has the key where people can launch their complaints, and at the end of the day, they will get to me and the officer that is found wanting, we face severe sanction in order to serve as deterrent to others.
“On the issue of passports capacity, it is becoming a thing of the past, in the very near future. Our partners are working hard. They know the importance of this, our partners in passport production. They have since realized that, work on the passport is in process.
“They have increased their production. But the thing is that Nigerians are highly mobile now. I want to call your attention to the fact that in the past two years, applications for these international passport has been unprecedented, but be that as it may, we are doing everything we can to ensure that we increase the supply of the passport booklets.”
The CGI who also emphasized the importance of education and sensitization in preventing irregular migration, urged countries conducting deportations of irregular migrants to respect human rights and adhere to international agreements, including the Global Compact on migration, which Nigeria adopted in 2018.
She urged countries conducting deportations of irregular migrants to respect human rights and adhere to international agreements.
To address passport procurement issues, the Immigration boss said there are plans for passport processing centers both within Nigeria and abroad, allowing for easier access to passports for the large number of mobile Nigerians residing in the diaspora.