The Oyo command of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has issued over 14, 000 in the last three months despite scarcity across the nation.
Comptroller in the state, Mrs Victoria Isang has revealed this in an interview with Tribune Travel and Tourism Magazine.
Isang disclosed that the agency is working hard towards clearing all backlog of requests as the passport control unit is committed to ensuring that all requests are made available promptly and timely, adding that “we are not resting on our oars and we shall not. We are employed to serve the nation and the public. We cannot do otherwise. Be assured of this”.
Speaking on the scarcity of passport booklets in the command, she revealed that the scarcity of booklets was not a deliberate act of the agency but rather it was as a result of a major technical hitch in central processing unit which has been tackled and rectified.
She, however, called on members of the public to flee from touts who parade themselves as ‘agents or contacts’ of the Oyo State Immigration Service, adding that “the Nigeria Immigration Service has never and would never appoint anybody or person to be its agents neither its contact person when it comes to passport and travelling documents processing. “So flee from these impostors,” “she counselled
She also advised the public to always be conscious of the expiry date on their passport and to always activate the procurement of a virgin passport or renewal of an existing one weeks and months before it is “urgently needed” so as not to be under the pressure of ‘urgent procurement ‘which lead many people to fall for touts who usually promise what they cannot deliver thus extorting them.
Assuring the public of dedication to duty, she said that officials of the agency will always do their best in ensuring efficient service and delivery, promising members of the public of prompt service.
She explained that said whatever challenges being encountered at obtaining the international passport was a matter of fleeting illusion which would soon be over.
