FG releases 10, 000 passport booklets, says no shortage of travel document

 The Federal Government has dismissed concerns about the shortages of passport booklets, saying it has enough to meet the growing demands of Nigerian citizens.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola disclosed this on Tuesday while commissioning the Enhanced Passport Production Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Media Adviser to the minister, Mr Sola Fasure in a statement said the newly commissioned passport centre will now take responsibility for the production of passport demands from Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States.

“We have left no stone unturned in our quest to make passports available to Nigerian citizens. Last year, we provided 1.3 million passports to Nigerians. As of today, there is no booklets shortage in Nigeria.

“We have also sent enough booklets to all the centres nationwide to address this challenge. There is therefore no excuse again for delay and non-issuance within a reasonable period,” Minister stated.

We have provided a window of six weeks and three weeks for fresh application and renewal respectively, after biometric data capture, by which time, other things being equal, the passport will be ready for collection. It is a reasonable provision in passport administration by global standard. There is no wait-and-get passport service anywhere in the world. The only wait-and-get passport is passport-sized photograph from Polaroid camera,” the Minister stated.

The Minister added that the Passport Production Centre will serve applicants from Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States, but was quick to add that it does not confer any advantage or disadvantage on any of the centres, noting that a deployment of 10,000 booklets have been deployed to serve the four states with immediate effect.

He also urged the public to make sure they apply by themselves online to avoid being shortchanged by unscrupulous elements.

“I will urge applicants for the Nigerian passport to apply early enough before their travel date to avoid cutting corners and falling into the hands of scammers and other opportunists. It is important also that they apply by themselves at the Nigeria Immigration Service portal and not through touts and unscrupulous officials, which often bring heartaches.