Expedite Passport Application Process, Minister Urges Agency Heads

In a determined effort to improve the efficiency of passport application and collection, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of Interior, has directed the heads of various agencies to expedite the process for obtaining Nigerian passports.

Tunji-Ojo emphasised that the days of lengthy queues for passport acquisition should come to an end.

In a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the minister, Alao Babatunde, he expressed his stance on the matter.

The minister emphasised that the current situation did not align with the aspirations for Nigeria’s future.

He also stated his intention to gain insight into the challenges faced by the agency, in order to address them effectively.

Tunji-Ojo noted that President Bola Tinubu was not interested in hearing excuses, adding that instead, he expected agency heads to take concrete actions.

The minister emphasized the critical juncture at which the country found itself, indicating that substantial transformations were urgently required.

He stressed the importance of harnessing technological advancement to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of processes within the immigration and correctional services.

“It is unacceptable to have to queue endlessly for international passports when we could easily deploy state-of-the-art technology to eliminate such bottlenecks. President Bola Tinubu’s directives are clear: We must deliver our mandate with effectiveness.

“We must all come together to deploy and invest our expertise to resolve them. Nigerians will take us up on our promises. If we have officers who are not ready for this rigorous process, we will excuse them,” the minister said.

He expressed commitment to modernising administrative procedures, reduce delays, and streamline operations in service delivery, ultimately benefiting Nigerian citizens seeking passports.