International Passport: FG blames errors identified with NIN for delayed passports

The Nigerian government reported that certain passports are being delayed due to differences in the National Identification Number (NIN) and the name on passport forms, which extends the wait beyond the required six weeks.

This was revealed on Sunday by Mrs Azuka Halliday, Comptroller of Immigration Service, Enugu Command, at the NIS 60th anniversary celebrations in Enugu.

Mrs Halliday went on to say that when the name on applicants’ NIN documents did not match the name on their passport forms, it caused their passports to be sent after the prescribed six weeks.

The Immigration chief urged Nigerians to use the NIS online platform for passports applications to avoid complications including delays that might arise from using a third-party platform, citing that if the applicants faced issues other than the NIN/passport form name discrepancy, her office would be more open to attend to them quickly.

Halliday noted that at 60, the Nigerian Immigration Service had delivered its core mandate which included, Issuance of passports and other travelling documents, Border Surveillance and Patrol, Enforcement of laws and Regulations and others to Nigerians.

She noted that the National Migration Policy, adopted in 2015 ensures that the country got optimum development from international migration, citing contributions from a substantial percentage to global migration as a major country of origin, transit and destination in terms of global migration, she noted:

“For effective implementation of the global migration policy, NIS is now saddled with the role of border management, ensuring national border security, seamless regular migration and economic development of the country.

“NIS has developed a streamlined building programme for its workforce nationally that would ensure proactive, effective and efficient service delivery as well as the introduction of modern technology to enhance its operations.
“All these innovations is to keep our borders safe,”