NIS ADHERES STRICTLY TO DUE PROCESS IN PASSPORT IN ISSUANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
The attention of the Comptroller General of Immigration Isah Jere Idris has been drawn to some reports alleging that the issuance of a Nigerian Standard Passport to one Mr. David Ukpo Nwamini who has been mentioned in an ongoing investigation by the UK authorities on human trafficking case did not follow due process.
Some aspects of the reports are suggesting that due diligence was not observed in the issuance of the said document to Mr. David.
2. To the contrary, the Service has continued to demonstrate capacity and sophistication in the administration and issuance of the Passports to eligible persons including Mr. David in the most professional manner. It is important to state that Nigeria is one of the first four countries in the world to deploy modern technological tools to run the electronic Passport platform as far back as 2007. Ever since then, significant improvements have been recorded including migration to the enhanced ePassport regime recently, a technology that has added some additional security features and options of Passport categories to applicants.
3. It is in the strength of the foregoing that one wonders about the validity of such claims that due process was not observed in the issuance of the Passport issued to Mr. David Ukpo Nwamini. Suffice, it be stated that the said Mr. David approached the application portal of the Service, applied and paid for the enhanced ePassport at the Gwagwalada Passport Office, FCT Abuja on the 2nd November, 2021. All the necessary documents including National Identity Number (NIN) issued by NIMC, letter of introduction issued by Ebonyi State Government Liaison Office situated on Mississipi Maitama District Abuja, Birth Certificate issued by the National Population Commission and other relevant documents to support the application of Mr. David were presented for processing.
4. These documents were issued by competent offices and the necessary verifications were made to confirm their validity and correctness. Consequent upon this therefore, the said Passport was issued to him having satisfied the basic requirements.
The Comptroller General, therefore, wishes to use this medium to state categorically that all Passport applications especially fresh ones are usually subjected to stringent screening exercises before issuance. Mr. David’s application was not an exception. This is done not only to ensure that our Passports are issued to eligible persons but that the process is transparent enough to sustain the integrity of our travel document.
eSigned
Amos OKPU mnipr
ASSISTANT COMPTROLLER OF IMMIGRATION
SERVICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FOR: COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF IMMIGRATION
25TH JUNE, 2022
