FG rejects passport book shortage report
Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola has dismissed reports of a nationwide shortage of passport books.
Aregbesola made the revelation on Wednesday during the rollout of the "enhanced e-passport" and the commissioning of the passport production center in Port Harcourt which covers AkwaIbom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers and Rivers states.
The minister called these rumors of passport shortages "unpatriotic and unscrupulous Nigerians", insisting that "the improved e-passport is a product of the latest technology" which cannot be seen in most advanced countries.
He said his ministry was making every effort to make passports available to Nigerians who wanted them, warning passport applicants against condescending “scammers”.
Aregbesola, who revealed that online application for the enhanced e-passport can only take three to six weeks for the passport to be processed, assured that the government is working to remove bad eggs from the immigration service .
In his address, the Comptroller General of the Immigration Service, Isah Idris, said that the "enhanced e-passport" fell into different categories.
He warned that immigration services do not "collect money from an applicant" as all payments must be made online.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, represented by Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, expressed his delight at the launch of the e-Passport Production Center in Port Harcourt.
>The governor ensured the support of the State, in particular by making the environment “conducive” to operations.
Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola has dismissed reports of a nationwide shortage of passport books.
Aregbesola made the revelation on Wednesday during the rollout of the "enhanced e-passport" and the commissioning of the passport production center in Port Harcourt which covers AkwaIbom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers and Rivers states.
The minister called these rumors of passport shortages "unpatriotic and unscrupulous Nigerians", insisting that "the improved e-passport is a product of the latest technology" which cannot be seen in most advanced countries.
He said his ministry was making every effort to make passports available to Nigerians who wanted them, warning passport applicants against condescending “scammers”.
Aregbesola, who revealed that online application for the enhanced e-passport can only take three to six weeks for the passport to be processed, assured that the government is working to remove bad eggs from the immigration service .
In his address, the Comptroller General of the Immigration Service, Isah Idris, said that the "enhanced e-passport" fell into different categories.
He warned that immigration services do not "collect money from an applicant" as all payments must be made online.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, represented by Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, expressed his delight at the launch of the e-Passport Production Center in Port Harcourt.
>The governor ensured the support of the State, in particular by making the environment “conducive” to operations.
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