Nigerians can now breathe a sigh of relief, as the era of endless waits and frustrating trips to immigration offices might soon be over. Starting in June, home delivery of passports will begin, thanks to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). This significant change was announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during his inspection of the electronic gates at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Why It Matters
However, don’t get too excited yet, because there’s the process, The service will be rolled out selectively to avoid overwhelming the system. So, if you live in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, or Abuja, congratulations, you’re among the lucky few. For the rest of the country, well, patience remains your best friend.
As for Nigerians abroad, you too are in for a treat. The home delivery service will initially be tested in the United States and the United Kingdom. This cautious approach is apparently necessary to ensure everything runs smoothly.
What They Are Saying
But why has it taken so long for this much-needed service to materialize? Minister Tunji-Ojo laid the blame squarely on the absence of a dedicated data center for the NIS. Up until now, the service had been relying on a private company’s data center, which is as secure as using a neighbor’s Wi-Fi for your banking transactions.
“We could have rushed this out in February,” Tunji-Ojo said, “but we needed to build our data center from scratch to maintain the integrity of our data and national security. It’s disgraceful that the NIS, at 61 years old, is still dependent on a third party for its data needs.”
Now, with the new data center up and running, the passport delivery process has been sorted. Tunji-Ojo assures us that this center is on par with any in the world, emphasizing that the integrity and security of Nigeria’s biometric data is non-negotiable.
“It is about national security and I can assure you that It is comparable with anyone you can find anywhere in the world.
“We have built the data centre, sorted the passport delivery solution and done the final presentation in terms of technology deliverables and the tracking solution which will all be embedded in the application we have so we do not create multiple lines of failure,” the minister said.
The new system, he claims, will streamline not just passport delivery but also visa processing, reducing the time from 72 hours to 48 hours. The final touches on the electronic visa system are also reportedly complete, promising a more efficient service.
Bottom Line
This all sounds like great news, especially given that the initial promise of home delivery was made nine months ago, with a February 2024 launch date that has now slipped to June. For those eagerly waiting, it’s another reminder that while good things may come to those who wait, in Nigeria, they often come much later than expected.
