The Nigerian government is finalising discussions with NIPOST to employ speed mail to distribute passports to People who seek them.
The Nigeria Immigration Passport Front Desk Office opened in Auchi, Edo State, on Saturday, May 20, 2023, with Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola saying this.
Nigerian finalising NIPOST speed service
Areggbesola said the government is finishing talks with NIPOST to utilise its speed mail service for the initiative wherever Nigerians reside.
Sola Fasure, Minister’s Media Advisor, said creating new Passport Front Offices in Edo State was part of the Nigerian government’s aim to improve passport delivery.
Daily Trust says Edo State has the most passport applications in Nigeria. The government intends to issue passports to anybody who wants one in a fair timeframe at an accessible price without difficulties.
The Minister observed that Edo State had one of the highest passport applications and that demand would increase the waiting period between application and collection.
Aregbesola said:
“Our current working schedule is six weeks for new applications and three weeks for renewal after biometric data registration, which is competitive and reasonable.
The application and data registration wait time is the problem.
“Applicants will wait in line at their preferred centre to select their registration date. Unfortunately, in highly competitive centres with many applications, it may take two months. We’re powerless.”
2023 Immigration Service gets 1.5 million passport applications.
The Minister said that the Nigerian government is deliberate about front desk operations and offices to enhance registration centres and cut the wait times of biometric data collection.
In 2023, the ministry opened five Nigerian front desk offices.
Isah Jere Idris, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, said Edo State had 56,291 passport applications out of 1.5 million produced in 2023, ranking fifth.
Nigerian passport rises 3 positions as another country becomes visa-free for nationals.
The 2022 Henley Passport Index ranks Nigeria’s passport 100th out of 116 countries but still Africa’s weakest.
Henley & Partners, a London-based worldwide citizenship and residence advice organisation, evaluates 199 passports depending on their visa-free destinations.
It is updated daily as visa policies change.
