x

FG launches E-Passport to curb forgery, Improve application process

The federal government has launched an enhanced e-passport to improve application process for Nigerians in the country and abroad.

According to a statement by Sola Fasure, media adviser to Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, the official rollout of the enhanced e-passport took place at the Nigerian High Commission in London, UK.

“What we have come to do here (UK) is symbolic of the core mandate of the ministry and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria affirmation of citizenship integrity,” he said.

“As we are all aware, there have been huge challenges in passport administration, from shortage of booklet to touting and an economy of corruption built around it.

“These challenges have persisted for too long and a lot of people have become cynical while others have taken them as normal and then roll with it.

“I do not believe that any problem is insurmountable, so we are going to solve all the problems associated with passport administration and we are already succeeding.”

Aregbesola said the new e-passport was a “huge improvement” over the standard passport introduced in 2007.

He said it has more sophisticated security features, making it one of the most secured passports in the world.

“The enhanced e-passport is a great improvement on the biometric passport technology which Nigeria adopted in 2007 as a strategic step towards curbing forgery. Impersonation and other forms of frauds associated with obtaining travel document under the old machine readable passport regime,” he said.

“We are aware that technology rules the world and we are keeping abreast of the latest development in the field.

“Over the years, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had worked assiduously and in close synergy with Messrs Iris Smart Technologies Limited to develop and implement passport reforms.”

Aregbesola said the reforms are in tandem with international best practices, including extant International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Standards and Regulations.

In his remarks, Isa Jere, the acting comptroller-general of NIS, expressed the service’s readiness to meet the demands for passports in the UK.

Jere said his officers are ever ready to roll out the new passports at the official rate published on the NIS website.

“We are ready to serve the public and start rolling out the new enhanced e-passport in the UK with immediate effect. Our staff are professionals and will deliver excellent service to our citizens,” he said.

“Those who have any complaints whatsoever are advised to use the publicly listed complaints channels to adequately resolve any issues raised.”

Hot this week

TCN Denies Explosion at Onitsha Sub-Region, Clarifies Cause of Outage

By Jabiru Hassan The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has...

CSOs Eulogize Governor Alia’s Neutrality, Respect for Democratic Values

The Center for Social Justice and Political Reform in...

NULGE Urges L.G Workers to Double Efforts in Service Delivery

By Jabiru Hassan The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of...

JUST IN: Immigration Increases Passport Fees to N100,000 and N200,000

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced a new...

2027: Middle Belt Group Protests PDP Zoning, Demands Presidential Ticket

By Israel Adamu, Jos The Cultural Middle Belt Renaissance Forum...

Plateau Youth Activist Hoomen Congratulates Dr. Cyril Tsenyil on NCDC Appointment

By Israel Adamu, Jos Plateau youth activist, Comrade Pius Hoomen,...

Ododo Orders Appointees to Return to LGAs for Grassroots Mobilisation on CVR

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman...

Chinese film on Nanjing Massacre resonates with Nigerian audience Source:...

Oborevwori, Senator Nwoko Hail Igbo Socio-Cultural Group for Tackling Identity Crisis

By Anne Azuka The Igbo Unification Movement, in collaboration with...

Tinubu Declares 9th National Youth Games Open in Delta

By Anne Azuka The 9th National Youth Games kicked off...

PAAU Gets NUC Approval for MBBS Program

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja The Faculty of Medicine at Prince...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img