*RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos.
The rejigging of the production process of passport booklets by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has resulted in the production of no fewer than 6,000 booklets within a month by the Rivers State Command.
The New Passport Control Officer of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Audi Musa Maisudan, made the disclosure while briefing the Comptroller in-charge of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Rivers State Command, CIS James Sunday, during a working visit to the passport office, located at Mile 1, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Maisudan hinted that the increase has reduced backlog and avoid rowdiness and undue pressure on the system.
He said the new initiative has also reduced touting, rushes, adding that applicants are getting use to allowing a system to work as an institution instead of using third party who are mostly touts.
The Comptroller in-charge of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Rivers State Command, CIS James Sunday while speaking during the visit commended the passport officer and his team for not letting the service down in line with the directives of the Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Comptroller General of Immigration Service Isah Jere Idris that Passport acquisition should not be a concern to Nigerians.
He noted that the directive of the Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Comptroller General of Immigration Service Isah Jere Idris specifically stated that the process of issuing passport must be duly followed in line with laid down rules of applying online, paying online and going by the appointment dates for capturing and collection which is the standard globally to avoid rowdiness and undue pressure on the system.
According to him,”The system has helped in reducing backlog and every applicant that follows due process is attended to on appointment dates and their passport collected at the appropriate collection dates stipulated by the service, it has reduced touting, rushes and applicants are getting use to allowing a system to work as an institution instead of using third party who are mostly touts.”
“I visited the passport office to see to compliance with Ministers directive as well as the Comptroller Generals directive for Comptrollers to Supervise professionally the activities in the Passport office operation and officers alike to ensure nothing untoward takes place and that Nigerians get the best treat and service for the product the service(NIS) offers,our public must be treated with dignity, humane and respect at all times, because of the importance placed on a valued relationship between a service provider and its clients ,the Passport Officer has demonstrated high sense of responsibility and dedication to his work,hence my commendation of his performance”
“We also removed some old hands who have being around for between 2 and 3 years, moving them to other units of the command, except those technically inclined and on the line of production whose character is in tandem with the service expectation, the speed, dedication and commitment of these officers on technical has contributed to the achievement we are celebrating, while charging them to keep doing their best to make Rivers Passport Office a preferred destination and first among equals in service delivery and customer care”
The Comptroller also warned against indolence and unethical practices among personnel, vowing to reward bad eggs with appropriate sanctions as stipulated in the Code of Conduct, Service rules anytime there is infringement, enjoining applicants to avoid use of third party and desperation , which the system does not allow. Every applicant should endeavor to follow due process and give enough time between the expiration of their passport and time to approach the Immigration passport office, giving adequate room for both the applicant and the service
