The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to deploy new passport printers to the Nigerian Consulates in Atlanta and New York, USA. This action follows a petition from a group of Nigerians in the Diaspora, who raised concerns about the difficulties Nigerians were facing in accessing consular services in these cities.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, Tunji-Ojo confirmed receiving the petition and immediately took steps to address the issue by approving the deployment of new printers to the passport offices in both cities. These printers, which are ready for installation, aim to resolve the current challenges quickly.
The statement also mentioned that Tunji-Ojo is implementing a long-term solution to streamline the passport application process. This includes the upcoming activation of the Passport Personalisation Centre in Abuja, scheduled to launch in the next few weeks, and the expansion of the contactless passport application solution to more countries, following its successful deployment in Canada.
The minister highlighted ongoing efforts to modernize the NIS, including the full automation of the passport application process. He reassured Nigerians that under President Bola Tinubu’s government, the ministry is committed to enhancing convenience, security, and innovation in delivering consular services.
Tunji-Ojo concluded by assuring the public that the government is working tirelessly to provide Nigerians with a smoother experience while maintaining national security.
