Abuja — Federal Government don commission one brand-new Centralized Data Personalization Centre for Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters, Abuja.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, wey inspect di facility, call am a real “game-changer” for Nigeria passport production. According to am, di new centre go fit print passports within 24 hours and deliver give applicants inside one week or less.
“Na di first time since NIS start for 1963 wey Nigeria go get centralized passport centre wey match global standard—like US, UK, France, Russia, India and Bangladesh,” Tunji-Ojo talk.
Old System Don Die
Before now, NIS dey personalize passports for about 96 centres both for Nigeria and abroad. Tunji-Ojo describe dat system as “vulnerable and inefficient.”
Di new facility get heavy machine wey dey produce 1,000 passports every hour. With am, NIS fit run between 4,500–5,000 passports per day—far better than di old machine wey dey do only 250–300 per day.
Other Big Reforms
Nigeria passport series don merge into one single type with help of technical partner Iris Smart Technologies.
Nigeria don fully join ICAO Public Key Directory wey dey validate travel documents worldwide, so di green passport now carry better global credibility.
Tunji-Ojo still remind Nigerians say dem inherit 204,000 backlog applications but di new automated system don clear backlog wahala because human interference no too dey again.
“Di era of backlog don end. Process don clean, fast and accountable. We promise two weeks’ delivery, but we dey move go one week or even less,” di Minister yarn.
Tunji-Ojo thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, di Permanent Secretary, Comptroller-General of Immigration and all NIS officers plus partners wey make di project possible.
