Minister of Interior Pays Surprise Visit to Passport Office, Berates Delays in Processing

In a bold move to address persistent complaints about inefficiencies in Nigeria’s passport issuance system, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made an unannounced visit to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Tuesday. During the inspection, the minister expressed strong dissatisfaction with delays in passport processing and sternly warned applicants against paying any extra fees beyond the official charges.

The minister’s surprise appearance comes amid growing public outcry over prolonged passport delays, with the NIS recently updating its online tracking system on January 15 to help applicants monitor their progress and reduce uncollected passports. Reports indicate that hundreds of produced passports remain unclaimed, exacerbating complaints from Nigerians both at home and abroad.

Tunji-Ojo toured the VIP and Children section of the office, engaging directly with immigration officials and waiting applicants. He questioned why operations were lagging, noting that despite the office’s scheduled 8 a.m. opening, services only commenced around 9 a.m. after powering up the generator.

Immigration officers explained the late start, but the minister was unmoved. He highlighted the inefficiency in processing, calculating that enrolment should take no more than three minutes per applicant. “How long does it take to do an enrolment? Three minutes. So three times seven, that is twenty-one minutes,” he remarked.

Expressing frustration over the low number of applicants served by mid-morning, Tunji-Ojo said, “So it means that by 9:30 a.m., I expect to see at least one or two applicants here. Because I can see some people waiting downstairs, and our responsibility is to be efficient.”

The minister criticised the sequential approach to enrolment and biometric capturing, insisting that both processes should run simultaneously to minimise waiting times. “It doesn’t make sense to me. People are there waiting. Some of these people still need to go to work. Some of these people have other things to do,” he added. “So why must you wait until you enrol everybody before you do capturing?”

Tunji-Ojo described the delays as “unacceptable,” emphasising that they waste valuable time. “You are wasting people’s precious time. Time is money. Time is expensive. It is unacceptable,” he stated.

He also pointed out the under-utilisation of the VIP section, suggesting it could be used to decongest other areas. “It will not cost you anything if you use this place for them,” the minister noted.

Addressing extortion concerns, Tunji-Ojo cautioned applicants against unofficial payments. “I don’t want to hear that you are collecting money for diesel or paper. Nigerians have paid for their passports completely. Serve them diligently,” he warned.

The minister reiterated the need for fairness and efficiency in service delivery. “Nigeria has no VIP. When you wear this uniform, you wear a uniform of sacrifice. You are here to work for the people,” he said.

This intervention aligns with broader reforms in Nigeria’s immigration system, including improvements in passport rankings. Nigeria’s passport recently climbed to 89th on the global Henley Passport Index, reflecting enhanced diplomatic efforts, though challenges like delays persist.