The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that passports will now be delivered within one week of enrolment, following a series of sweeping reforms in the issuance process.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, gave the assurance on Thursday during the Ministry’s mid-tenure performance retreat in Abuja.
“Our target is very clear: within one week of enrolment, every Nigerian should have their passport in hand. Not just delivering quickly, but delivering quality passports that reflect our national integrity,” the minister stated.
He explained that the new system was designed to eliminate the long delays and extortion that previously plagued the process, often forcing applicants to wait six to seven months or pay up to ₦200,000 to fast-track issuance.
“We inherited a system with a six-month backlog, which we cleared in just two and a half weeks. It was inefficient. Nigerians would apply and wait endlessly. Some paid ₦200,000 to ₦250,000 to get a passport,” Tunji-Ojo said.
“Even my own daughter experienced it. When I was chairman of the House Committee on the NDDC, I had to pay hundreds of thousands just to get a passport for my 12-year-old daughter. That era is over.”
The minister highlighted that the centralised passport personalisation centre, the largest in Africa, now enables faster processing and tighter security protocols.
“With this facility, we can print five times more passports than our current demand. Once an applicant enrols, it takes us less than 24 hours to complete the vetting. Printing capacity is no longer a bottleneck,” he said.
As part of the reforms, Tunji-Ojo announced that passport control officers (PCOs) would no longer have the authority to approve or delay applications. This decision follows revelations that some officers had been central figures in corrupt practices within the system.
“Some PCOs had so much unchecked power that they could hold up approvals until they were ‘settled.’ That abuse of power ends now,” he said.
He noted that centralising the approval process would prevent applicants from being subjected to the discretion of individual officers, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
“The best way to fight corruption is to minimise human contact. Passport approval will no longer rest with PCOs. My job is not to be liked, it’s to deliver results. Let Nigerians be happy,” he stated.
Tunji-Ojo also emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s passport.
“My responsibility is not just to make passports available, but to ensure that only Nigerians carry them. If you are not Nigerian, you cannot own one. It’s about our national integrity,” he said.
He cited past instances where foreign nationals were caught with fraudulently acquired Nigerian passports, including a Ugandan woman arrested at Lagos airport who had paid $1,000 to obtain one illegally.
“That can no longer happen. Our passport must be a true symbol of Nigerian identity,” he added.
