The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday carried out an unscheduled visit to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja, where he condemned delays in passport processing and warned officials against extorting applicants.
During the surprise inspection, the minister expressed displeasure over the slow pace of operations, noting that applicants were still waiting hours after the office was expected to begin service. He questioned why only a few people had been attended to, despite the section being designated for expedited services.
Tunji-Ojo inspected activities at the VIP and children sections of the passport office and engaged directly with both officials and applicants. He stressed that Nigerians had paid fully for passport services and should not be subjected to additional or unofficial charges.
“I don’t want to hear that you are collecting money for diesel or paper. Nigerians have paid for their passports completely. Serve them diligently,” the minister said.
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He also cautioned applicants against making extra payments outside official fees, urging them to report any form of exploitation. According to him, inefficiency and unofficial charges undermine public trust in government institutions.
The minister further queried officials on the pace of enrolment and biometric capturing, noting that each applicant should be processed within minutes. He calculated that multiple applicants could be enrolled within a short period if procedures were followed efficiently.
In response, immigration officers acknowledged that although the office was scheduled to open by 8 a.m., operations commenced later due to power supply issues, with the generator reportedly switched on around 9 a.m. An official explained that electricity was restored after applicants had already arrived.
Tunji-Ojo insisted that such excuses were unacceptable, reiterating the need for efficiency, accountability and improved service delivery across all passport offices nationwide.
