In a swift response to the concerns of Nigerians in the Diaspora, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has addressed issues with malfunctioning equipment at the passport offices in Atlanta and New York.
The move follows multiple petitions from Nigerians abroad, urging the government to resolve the equipment breakdowns affecting consular services in these cities.
According to a statement issued by the minister’s media aide, Alao Babatunde, Dr. Tunji-Ojo directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to deploy new printers to the passport offices in Atlanta and New York as part of an immediate solution.
“These printers are prepared for installation, and this short-term solution aims to address the current challenge promptly,” the statement revealed.
The minister also hinted at a long-term strategy to streamline passport processing for Nigerians worldwide.
The statement reads:
“Part of this plan includes activating the Passport Personalisation Centre (PPC) in Abuja, which is scheduled to start in the next few weeks while opening up more countries for the already-deployed contactless solution.”
In addition, the Ministry of Interior is intensifying efforts to ensure seamless passport services. Babatunde noted that the NIS has automated the passport application process end-to-end, introducing a contactless application system that has already been launched in Canada.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo affirmed his commitment to reforming the passport regime, ensuring that Nigerians, both at home and abroad, can access these essential services more efficiently.
