The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has advised the public against patronising touts or agents in processing application for passport.
The Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration (ACG) in charge of Zone A, Mr Ishaku Hamad, gave the advice during a parley with journalists on Thursday in Lagos.
Hamad urged the public to apply online and submit completed application form as well as proof of payment to the passport office for processing.
According to him, the Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammed Babandede, has provided additional equipment and posted more officials to Lagos due to the high demand for passport in the area.
“Henceforth, there will be no more delay in the issuance of passport in all the passport offices.
“The Comptroller General has posted some senior officers from the headquarters with enough working materials to ease passport delivery in Lagos Zone,” Hamad said.
Also speaking, Passport Control Officer, Ikoyi, Lagos, Segun Adegoke, said that the online application was a “smooth and seamless process’’ aimed at facilitating quick delivery of passport.
Adegoke assured that passport should be ready for collection 24 hours after capturing the applicant’s data once all supporting documents, including proof of online payment, were provided.
“Here in Ikoyi Passport Office, we ensure due diligence and there is no deliberate attempt to delay the process.
“We run a transparent service for a smooth process; since it is computer-based, you don’t have to know anybody before you process a passport; you can do it yourself.
“We have sufficient materials to ensure that there is no more delay in issuing the passport,’’ Adegoke said.
Sunday James, NIS National spokesman, also urged the public to avoid touts who posed as immigration agents to dupe unsuspecting passport applicants.