Nigerians in the diaspora petition Minister Tunji-Ojo over passport delays, leading to immediate printer deployment and long-term solutions

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]igerians living in the United States have raised concerns over passport printing delays at the country’s consulates in Atlanta and New York.

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In response, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, has addressed the situation by approving the immediate deployment of new printers to these consulates.

These printers, which are ready for installation, will be used to resolve the ongoing challenges faced by applicants.

In an official statement, Minister Tunji-Ojo emphasised that this initiative is part of a short-term solution aimed at alleviating the current backlog.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has been directed to oversee the swift installation of the equipment, ensuring that passport processing can proceed without further delays.

The minister also revealed that the government is working on a long-term solution to streamline the passport application process, making it more efficient and user-friendly for Nigerians both at home and abroad.

One of the key elements of this plan is the launch of a Passport Personalisation Centre in Abuja, set to begin operations in the coming weeks.

Tunji-Ojo also highlighted the expansion of the contactless passport application system, which has already been successfully deployed in Canada.

This technology allows for a more seamless application process, and the government plans to extend it to more countries in the near future.

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“At the Nigeria Immigration Service, there has been an end-to-end automation of the passport application process, ensuring a more efficient system,” said the minister, noting that agencies involved are working tirelessly to resolve all issues.