Nigeria Immigration Service begins gradual release of International Passports
The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, says it has begun the gradual release of International Passports to Nigerians whose passports were processed but could not be retrieved by them due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
The Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, has therefore, directed immigration services nationwide and abroad to commence the gradual release of processed international passports to their rightful owners.
In a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, DCI, James Sunday, on behalf of the Comptroller General, says those who earlier applied for international passports before the lockdown will be called in batches through the Small Message Services, SMS, to collect their passports.
“The Comptroller General of Immigration has directed all the passport offices to commence gradual release of passports to those earlier enrolled by inviting them in batches via SMS”.
The statement also said that the NIS has also resumed the enrollment processes for fresh cases and all other categories of passport issues, adding that the service had continued to use digital technology to work throughout the period of the lockdown.
It also said that men and officers of the service deployed to both the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos for essential services during the lockdown were provided with Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, to protect them against contracting the coronavirus as they cleared passengers on arrival and departure through special flights approved by the Aviation Ministry and officials of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
He further said that the Migration Data Analysis System was deployed to capture Bio metrics of travelers {both incoming and out bound passengers} at the two International Airports in Abuja and Lagos, with the passengers Facial and thumb prints captured for official purpose and security reasons.
“This has helped in keeping track with National Security concerns during the lockdown period without compromising security.”
According to the NIS Comptroller General, the land borders remained closed to avoid border crossing by migrants, thus helping to check the importation and further spread of COVID-19 from neighbouring countries.
Babandede enjoined the NIS officials to observe the COVID-19 protocols and advise their clients to adhere strictly to the protocols to help curb the continued spread of coronavirus in the country and their offices across the world.
