It has been over one month, and Nigerians have not started receiving their passports at their homes, offices, and other locations of their choice, as promised by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Development Diaries reports that Tunji-Ojo promised that the passports of Nigerians would be delivered to their homes, offices, and other locations of their choice by February 2024.
New findings show a financial crisis has resulted in a shortage of passport booklets since service providers are owed billions of naira, and printed booklets are backed up in warehouses due to debts.
According to a report by The Nation, passport booklets have been exhausted, and the e-passport reform is faced with bureaucratic challenges.
The report also revealed that applicants at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja and the Alausa, Alimosho, and Ikoyi passport offices in Lagos were experiencing difficulties obtaining their passports.
Tunji-Ojo promised Nigerians in November 2023 that the recently introduced passport automation process meant that Nigerians would not need to wait longer than two weeks before they got their passport.
Additionally, he stated that by February 2024, citizens will be able to have their passports delivered to their residences, workplaces, and other preferred locations.
The month of February came and went, but Nigerians did not hear anything from the ministry on fulfilment of this promise.
With these recent developments and complaints from passport seekers, the promise of the minister hangs in the balance.
When citizens continue to witness cases of unfulfilled promises by government officials, it significantly erodes their trust in the government.
The failure of ministers to deliver on their pledges not only reflects poorly on their credibility but also undermines the integrity of the government as a whole.
Development Diaries calls on the minister and the NIS Comptroller General, Kemi Nandap, to work towards removing bureaucratic bottlenecks hindering the smooth issuance of passports to Nigerians.
Photo source: Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
