By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Passport Control Officer in kogi state command of Nigeria Immigration Service, DC, Friday Agada has attributed the recent influx of international passports applicants to kogi state to shortage of financial passport booklets in the neighbouring states.
DC Agada made the clarifications while reacting to some allegations of fraud, favouratism and passport booklet hoarding, allegedly rocking Kogi State office of the Nigerian Immigration Service, (NIS).
He pointed out that “passport financial booklets are directly under my custody. My officers have no reason to hoard any booklets. The increase number of applicants within this period gave room for this challenges.”
The PCO acknowledged the high rate of revenue generation in kogi state command in recent time due to many applicants rushing to the state for the international passports adding that his office was able to realised over 48.5 million naira within eight months that I assumed office, ( Sept 2020 – April 2021).
Agada further disclosed that the minister has assured the ministry that in no distance time, shortage of financial passport booklet would be a thing of the past.
On the allegations of fraud and favouritism, Deputy Comptroller pointed out that monthly revenue collections are remitted to Federal Government’s account on monthly basis which according to him has improved tremendously in the state.
He further disclosed that thousands of passports produced for applicants are lying in office. It’s possible that new applicants may be on the same queue with old applicants who come to collect his/her passport. And when such an old applicant get inside and collect his/ her Passport, new applicants may regards such as favouritism.
“However, sometimes we give priority attention to some pressing issues. Issues like when one has health challenges and needed medical attention outside the country. We’ll give quick and adequate attention to such applicant to save life.”
DC, Agada therefore described all the allegations against his office as frivolous, baseless, Insane, derogatory adding “these people seems not to know the system of NIS, but a calculated attempt to dent my image and disdain the reputation of the Command.”
On his achievements within this short period in office, DC Agada stressed, “I run an open door administration, and have adopted a mode of operation not to give express approval to any applicant, irrespective of one’s status in the society and applicants’ documents are thoroughly cross checked to avoid embarrassment at international airports.”
“We have many sections in the passport control department. When I came on board, I introduced alternation to create room for officers to have knowledge of the process in all the sections. while some officers kicked against the rotational system, others supported and they are all enjoying the system now.”
“I also put a full stop to manipulations, shortcut practices, and that everybody must follow due process, first come – first serve. Those who are not ready to adhere to all these are those laying flimsy excuses and adopting blame-Game syndrome”.
He therefore advised passport applicants to stop patronizing touts that are roaming around the premises of passport control department to avoid manipulations and shortchange.
