The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Monday, launched an automated passport application process for Nigerians.
The development means Nigerians at home and abroad can now go online to apply for passports without interface with personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
The interior minister while speaking to newsmen on the new feat, gave the credit to the visionary leadership and support given by President Bola Tinubu.
The minister was upbeat that the online passports portal would drastically reduce contacts between applicants and immigration officers, adding that it would revolutionise the process of obtaining passports.
He also added that it would speed up the entire process of obtaining a new passport by Nigerians in any part of the world.
“This initiative is sure to bring relief to all Nigerians who desire to obtain the nation’s passport. The portal has undoubtedly ended the long waiting period for passport issuance. It has also ended the cycle of daily wastage of man-hours by passport applicants”, said Tunji-Ojo.
The Minister during the training of Immigration personnel for the exercise had hinted that the online passport application platform was established for both international and Nigerian applicants.
He said the process which would involve uploading passport photos and supporting documents online would reduce human interfaces and eliminate corrupt practices.
He explained that Nigerian applicants who want 32-page passports with five-year validity would pay N25,000, while those who want 64-page passports with a 10-year validity would pay N70,000.
Foreign applicants, who wish to apply for passports with a five-year validity period and 32 pages, would pay $130, while those who prefer passports with a 10-year validity period and 64 pages would pay $230.
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