Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has banned cash payments for passport processing as part of eff orts to eliminate corruption at all passport offi ces nationwide.
NIS spokesperson, Sunday James, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.
He said the ComptrollerGeneral of the NIS, Muhammad Babandede, had directed that henceforth all payments for passport processing must be done online and through designated banks He said the NIS boss had, in a circular, directed all passport control offi cers not to allow cash payments in any of the passport premises.
“All payments in respect to passport processing are to be done by applicants through banks to generate application ID and reference number on the NIS portal and not through an individual or touts,” he said.
Th is followed reports by Premium Times exposing entrenched corruption at passport offi ces, where Immigration offi cials connive with touts to rip off applicants.
According to him, the NIS boss has also ordered an investigation into allegations of passport racketeering at some passport offi ces in Lagos with a view to sanitising the system.
James, therefore, urged passport applicants to ensure that all categories of Nigerian passports fees were done online.
“Passport applicants are therefore strongly advised to visit the NIS website www.
immigration.gov.ng to confi rm the approved fees for all categories of Nigerian Passports and age groups before making payments.
” He said the management of all passport offi ces had been directed to paste all information required at the premises to guide applicants in line with the executive orders.
He urged Nigerians to direct any complaint or enquiries to 07080607900 and the email address nis.
servicom@ nigeriaimmigration.
gov.ng. Th e spokesperson advised applicants against patronising touts or agents in order to ensure effi cient service delivery.
Th e NIS boss vowed to stamp out corruption in the operations of the NIS as part of eff orts to reposition the Service and ensure effi cient service delivery
