The Nigeria Immigration Service announced on Friday that, barring unforeseen technical issues, Nigerians can expect their passports three weeks after submitting their applications.
The Comptroller General, Mrs. Caroline Adepoju, disclosed this during the unveiling of the Igbogbo Passport Front Office in Lagos State.
Adepoju, in her first assignment as the substantive Comptroller General, assured that, under normal circumstances, applicants should receive their passports within three weeks.
She emphasized the importance of registering with the same details as the National Identity Management Commission, as the national identity numbers would be linked to the passports.
“People who are applying for our passport must have similar details with which they are applying for the passport on their national identity numbers because the Nigerian passport has the national identity number on it,” Adepoju added.
She advised applicants whose passports were nearing expiration to apply for renewal six months before expiration to avoid visa denials from countries with a six-month validity requirement.
The Governor of Lagos State, represented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, commended the siting of the Igbogbo Passport Office, affirming the Federal Government’s commitment to world-class services.
The passport office in Igbogbo is capable of accommodating 200 applicants.
The Chairman of the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area requested the inclusion of the newly-inaugurated passport front office in the next upgrading process to a full passport office.
The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom pledged community ownership and support for the Immigration Service for smooth operations. The community leaders emphasized security measures for the facility.