By Alex Olise
The Nigerian Immigration Service yesterday unveiled a new electronic passport facility for the South Eastern Zone of the country.
During the unveiling ceremony the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola explained that with the new facility those seeking application for international passport no longer required the assistance of anybody to do so henceforth.
In a statement e-signed by the service spokesperson, Amos Okpu an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration (ACI) explained further that with the seamless online option the Nigeria Immigration Service has made it very easy for passport applicants to sit in the comfort of their home and offices and apply for any category of passport without stress.
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“Passport applicants don’t need anybody again to get a passport, it is so easy to apply online and applicants will only be required to come to the selected passport office on the appointment date for enrollment”.
At the ceremony the Minister explained that the major aim of introducing the online payment option is to eliminate all forms of passport racketeering, touting and clumsy processes in the system. He urges passport applicants to visit NIS portal via passport.immigration.gov.ng to apply, complete the form pay online and get an appointment date for enrollment.
He maintained that all applicants should have their National Identification Number (NIN) and be ready to supply verifiable documents to enable easy processing of their applications.
At the ceremony, the acting Comptroller General of Immigration (CG) Isah Jere Idris stated that the enhanced E-Passport is the latest technology in passport production which comes in three categories of 32 pages, five years validity, 64 pages, five years validity and 64 pages, ten years validity.
According to the Immigration Boss, the data page is polycarbonate and water resistant, it has additional 25 security features over ordinary electronic passport.
Speaking earlier at the event the Governor of Enugu State His Excellency Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the secretary to the state government Prof. Simeon Uchenna Otuanya lauded the Nigeria Immigration Service for the new innovation while assuring of the state government full support to all federal government agencies in the state.
