Minister of Inside, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday paid an unannounced go to to the Nigerian Immigration Service passport workplace in Gwagwalada, Abuja, the place he criticised delays in passport processing and warned candidates in opposition to making additional funds.
The minister inspected operations on the VIP and Kids part of the passport workplace and engaged each officers and candidates, questioning why candidates have been nonetheless ready lengthy after the workplace was anticipated to start operations.
Through the go to, Tunji-Ojo obtained suggestions from candidates and cautioned them in opposition to paying cash exterior official charges, insisting that Nigerians had already paid totally for passport companies.
“I don’t wish to hear that you’re amassing cash for diesel or paper.
“Nigerians have paid for his or her passports utterly. Serve them diligently,” the Minister mentioned.
He expressed displeasure that just a few candidates had been attended to hours after opening time, regardless of the part being designated for expedited companies.
“So it implies that by 9:30am, I count on to see at the very least one or two candidates right here. As a result of I can see some folks ready downstairs, and our accountability is to be environment friendly,” the minister mentioned.
Tunji-Ojo questioned officers on the tempo of enrolment and biometric capturing, calculating that every applicant ought to be processed inside minutes.
“How lengthy does it take to do an enrolment? Three minutes. So 3 times seven, that’s twenty-one minutes,” he mentioned.
Immigration officers admitted that though the workplace was scheduled to open by 8am, operations started later after the generator was switched on at about 9am.
“We’re imagined to open by eight,” an official mentioned, explaining that energy was placed on after candidates arrived.
The minister criticised the apply of finishing enrolment for all candidates earlier than commencing biometric capturing, insisting that each processes ought to be carried out concurrently to cut back ready time.
“It doesn’t make sense to me. Persons are there ready.
“A few of these folks nonetheless must go to work. A few of these folks produce other issues to do,” Tunji-Ojo added. “So why should you wait till you enrol all people earlier than you do capturing?,” the minister mentioned.
He described the scenario as unacceptable, stressing that delays defeated the aim of service supply.
“You’re losing folks’s treasured time. Time is cash. Time is dear. It’s unacceptable,” he mentioned.
Tunji-Ojo additionally faulted the under-utilisation of the VIP and Kids part, noting that candidates ready in different sections may have been redirected to ease congestion.
“It is not going to value you something if you happen to use this place for them,” he mentioned.
The minister reiterated that passport places of work should prioritise effectivity and equity.
“Nigeria has no VIP. Once you put on this uniform, you put on a uniform of sacrifice. You’re right here to work for the folks,” he mentioned.