Senate Committee on Interior has begun urgent investigation on the delay in the issuance and renewal of international passports by the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.
The resolution of the upper legislative Chamber followed a motion which was sponsored by Senator Lilian Ekwunife representing Anambra Central Senatorial District at a plenary on Tuesday.
Report of the Committee is expected in two weeks.
In her motion titled: “Delay on issuance and renewal of Nigeria International Passport”, by the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Lawmaker said it has caused untold hardship to Nigerians, stressing that after payment, they don’t get services.
She explained that Nigerians travelling outside the country and those returning are facing frustration due to epileptic services of the NIS.
“International Passport is an official identity document, issued to Nigerians for the purpose of traveling out and into the country in exercise of their rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement,” she said.
She also observed that it was in contradiction to the six weeks period given by the Federal Government for the issuance of an International passport.
She stated that applicants spend three to six months before getting their International passport under the current Comptroller-General of NIS, insisting that this was unacceptable under any guise.
To get a biometric capturing, a process required, she revealed, takes five to eight weeks, after which applicants wait for four months or more to get the passport.
