By Ignatius Ushie
Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said the ministry under his watch is set to create new passports processing and collection centres, especially for Nigerians in the Diaspora, to decongest the influx of people at the already established centres as well as fast track service operations in the country and in the Diaspora.
The Minister gave this cheering news at the just concluded sixth edition of the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and the Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative (NDSI) in Abuja.
“Nigerians, especially Diaspora Nigerians are to enjoy a seamless passport process and issuance system,” Tunji-Ojo pledged.
The Minister also informed that a fully biometric immigration application process as obtainable in most foreign countries to reduce human contact and convenient passport collection is underway before February 2024.
According to him, “Nigerians at home and in the diaspora deserve the best. They don’t have to suffer or sweat to get the Nigerian Passport.”
The Interior Minister added that a team from the Ministry will kick-start supervision of the E8- Mandate in the UK, as the first place on the assignment.
He, however, urged the public to report any unethical behaviours by officers in the Ministry and its respective parastatals, as a deterrent to curbing the menace of corruption in the system and boost effectiveness in service delivery to Nigerians.
Tunji-Ojo, whose goodwill message received a thunderous applause , assured Nigerians that they will start seeing the positive changes before February 2024.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, NIDCOM commended the Minister for his positive disposition towards the plight of Nigerians in the Diaspora, particularly with passports issuance.
According to her, “the key thing is, we have to encourage our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora to come home and invest by creating a conducive environment with these packages.”
The theme of the Summit iwas ” New Vistas, New Aspirations, New Opportunities: The Diaspora and National Development”.
