The Minster of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has acknowledged the receipt of a petition bothering on appeal for passport printers in Atlanta and New York Consulates in the United States of America.
This is contained in a press statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Babatunde Alao, on Thursday, January 23, 2025, in Abuja.
In addressing this issue, according to the Minister, he has since approved and directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to immediately deploy new printers to the passport offices in both cities.
“These printers are ready for installation. This short-term solution aims to resolve the current challenge promptly,” the statement noted.
The Minister hinted that there is a new solution being implemented as a long-term plan that will usher in a streamlined passport regime, enabling Nigerians to apply for their passports with more ease.
“Part of this plan includes the activation of the Passport Personalisation Centre in Abuja, which is scheduled to start in the next few weeks while also opening up more countries for the already-deployed contactless solution.
“We are working round the clock, and none of the agencies are left behind. At the Nigeria Immigration Service, for instance, there has been an end-to-end automation of the passport application process and the introduction of the contactless application process, which has since been launched in Canada.”
The Minister assures that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to ensuring that Nigerians experience #RenewedHope driven by innovation and convenience without jeopardizing national security.
