The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has criticized the Nigerian Immigration Service , NIS, for what he termed a “stupid practice” of requiring people, especially married women to travel to Abuja for a change of name on their passport.
The minister expressed his dissatisfaction with the practice during a recent dinner with members of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ABAT Media Centre and social media influencers in Abuja.
Tunji-Ojo labeled the requirement for individuals to travel to the immigration headquarters in Abuja, sometimes from distant locations, for a simple name change as absurd. He questioned whether immigration personnel in Abuja had more than one head compared to their counterparts in passport offices across the country.
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The minister emphasized that the passport issue is the least of his concerns, expressing a desire for more secure borders for the country. He announced upcoming reforms that will allow contactless biometrics enrolment for passports, enabling Nigerians to complete their enrolments online without the need to travel to Abuja.
Tunji-Ojo stated that from March onwards, the new reforms would streamline and simplify the passport renewal process.
He highlighted the importance of knowledge transfer and training for passport officers and assured Nigerians that the #RenewedHope agenda aims to positively disrupt existing processes.
Tunji-Ojo urged citizens to have faith in the Tinubu administration, emphasizing his commitment to giving his all to Nigeria and its people. He concluded by stating that public service demands 100 percent dedication and commitment.
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