Clearing all passport backlogs shouldn’t take more than two weeks – Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has said that all passport backlogs will be cleared within the next two weeks. 

Appearing on a Channels Television program on Tuesday night, Ojo said there will be no excuse for passport delay in Nigeria. He also said that he is in talks with service providers and the Nigeria Immigration Service to digitise and decentralise the process of fresh passport issuance and renewal.

He said; 

“Clearing all backlogs shouldn’t take more than two weeks. After clearing these backlogs, no Nigerian should wait for more than two weeks. 

“It’s a right and not a privilege. Nigerians want that right to be actually theirs, not by somebody offering you your right. What Nigerians want to see is solutions and that is what the President has constantly told us… No excuses.

“In line with the directive of Mr. President, it can no longer be business as usual. We have critically analysed all these scenarios – from the point of going online to fill out the form to the point of payment, to the point of picking a date, to the point of biometrics, to the point of issuance of passports. We understand the service providers involved and we have been able to see one or two things to put right.”