Interior Minister Vows to reduce passport delays

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, has promised to address the delays that Nigerians living abroad face while applying for passports.

In an effort to make getting a passport easier for people living abroad, he announced that by February 2024, additional passport desk offices would be opened all over the world.

The Minister said on Thursday when he was a guest on Arise News.

Tunji-Ojo promised that those Nigerians living abroad who had been apprehended will receive their passports within the following three weeks.

He mentioned that his focus is now on those living abroad after resolving the backlogs in the nation.

Tunji-Ojo said, “Canada has only one passport office which is unacceptable.  The government might not be able to afford to establish passport offices all over the world, but we have to collaborate with private organisations to achieve this.  For instance, in the United Kingdom,  no matter your location you have to come to London for your passports. And when there is an over-demand for something,  corruption sets in.

“I can assure you that by February next year, we will have passport front offices all over the world.  Also, we are working very hard to ensure Nigerians in the diaspora already captured will get their passports.  We have sorted the domestic issues,  we are now focused on those in the diaspora. We will ensure that those who have been captured get their passports in the next two to three weeks. ”

Speaking on reducing corruption in the administration of passports in the country,  the minister said the adoption of technology would help a great deal.

He said, “The best way to prevent corruption is to avoid human contact as much as possible.  We must adopt technology to curb this and also to enhance our service delivery.  Also,  Nigerians should avoid getting their passports by proxies.”