The Acting Comptroller-General (ACG) of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, Mrs. Wura-Ola Adepoju, has initiated an inquiry into allegations of misconduct involving certain Immigration personnel at various passport offices across the country.
Adepoju expressed her deep concern regarding such professional misconduct, emphasizing that it contradicts the recent reforms implemented within the Service by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. She firmly stated that personnel found guilty of these allegations will face disciplinary actions in accordance with the Service’s established ethical conduct and behavior guidelines. She reaffirmed that the Minister’s directive to ensure timely passport issuance is here to stay.
In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Service, Dr. Dotun Aridegbe, Adepoju highlighted that the two-week timeline for passport processing and issuance is non-negotiable, and any personnel found in breach of this directive for personal gain will face consequences imposed by the Service.
Adepoju also explained that, after clearing a backlog of over 204,000 passports, the Minister has directed that henceforth, passport processing and issuance should be completed within two weeks. She expressed concern that some personnel have reportedly extended the processing duration for selfish motives. To address this, the Service is actively monitoring compliance with the Minister’s directive, both domestically and internationally. Additionally, contact numbers have been provided to the public for reporting any extortion attempts by Service personnel.
While acknowledging the longer processing times for applications related to reissuing lost passports and changing personal data due to the necessary verification processes, Adepoju cautioned applicants in these categories against making unfounded allegations, as it could negatively impact the Service’s reputation.
