NIS blames name discrepancies for delay in passport issuance
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has blamed discrepancies in National Identification Number (NIN) and the name filled in passport forms for delays in procuring the international travel documents beyond the recommended six weeks.
The comptroller of Immigration Service, Enugu Command, Azuka Halliday, disclosed this during the event marking NIS 60th anniversary celebrations in Enugu on Sunday.
She said that when the name on applicants’ NIN documents did not match the name on their passport forms, it delayed the delivery time of their passports beyond the recommended six weeks.
Ms Halliday, therefore, advised Nigerians to use the NIS online platform for passport applications to avoid complications, including delays that might arise from using a third-party platform.
She said if the applicants faced issues other than the NIN/passport form name discrepancy, her office would be more open to attending quickly.
On the National Migration Policy, Ms Halliday said Nigeria adopted it in 2015 to ensure that the country got optimum development from international migration.
She said Nigeria contributed a substantial percentage to global migration as a major country of origin, transit and destination in terms of global migration.
Okey Ezugwu, a retired NIS staff who delivered the anniversary lecture, described Nigeria’s immigration law as the most liberal in the world because of its friendly nature.
“If one runs foul of our laws, we do not really go for a kill as the person being punished may not understand why he is being punished.
“I am not saying that our immigration laws should be reviewed, but I am saying, from our background, that we are hospitable and we don’t ill-treat foreigners,” he said.
He called for a review of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) policy that allowed citizens of member countries freedom to enter any member state without Visas.
Mr Ezugwu, who retired as an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, said the freedom was being abused as many Nigerians did not see themselves as strangers in Nigeria.
(NAN)
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