Immigration Worries Over Abandonment Of 16,863 Passports By Applicants

The Passport  Command of the Nigeria  Immigration Service,  Ikoyi Lagos has expressed worries over 16,863 passports abandoned by applicants after waisting their money and time to procure the passports and at the end of the day do not come forward for collections.

The Deputy Comptroller in charge of the command, Mr. A.I Liman made this known in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Lagos on Wednesday.

The seasoned officer who assumed duty barely three weeks ago at the Ikoyi   command,  said as at Monday this week, over 7000 bulk messages have  been sent to applicants to come forward for collection of the passports followed  by email massages.

On challenges faced by the command ,he said “Most worrisome is the frustrations given the service and applicants by the NIMC.

“A Passport that supposed to be produce in less than three day ,may likely take three weeks or more as a result of minor error that can be corrected by NIMC , giving the service a though time in cause of service delivery.

Liman reiterated that Lagos has the highest number of booklets, adding that ,gone are  yesterday when the service was having problem of booklet, today Lagos State has the highest number of booklets.

Liman said the command under his watch will discharge it’s duty as enshrined in the oath of office. In doing this,”I will not ascribed to myself Monopoly of knowledge as good suggestions will be welcome from within and outside the service. Iam not adverse to constructive criticism.

He promised to operate a open door policy with stakeholders and most especially the media in furtherance to information sharing and dissemination of the service contributions to the nation.

He explained further,that the media has what it takes to educate the public on issuance of passport.

Speaking further,he said “Finally, I call on all officers and men of the command to tow the path of professionalism and rededicate ourselves to the services that we all sworn to discharge.

“Effective service delivery is what Nigerians expect from us, and that we shall give. Insha Allah.

“Gone are yesterday when the service was having the problem of booklet, today Lagos has the highest number of booklets”,Liman maintained.