The Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has officially launched the much-anticipated International Passport Automation System.
In just five simple steps, you can enrol for your passport.
Step 1
Proceed to the Official Website: passport.immigration.gov.ng . Fill your NIN to auto-fill your data from NIMC.
Step 2
Complete other data fields as required.
Step 3
Upload your passport photograph that meets (ICAO Standards) and other supporting documents.
Step 4
Walk into an Immigration Office for your biometric capture.
Step 5
Your passport is ready for collection within two weeks.
While Nigerians commended the minister for the steps taken, some have taken to the social media to express their worries, especially on step four (biometric capture).
According to them, having to still go to Immigration office for biometric capture has not eliminated the human factor.
Below are some of the reactions on X (formerly twitter):
@IamThatNaijaGuy posted: ‘While I commend the Hon. Minister for this good step, I want to point out that, to completely solve the inefficiency problem, everything should be completely automated. Biometric data are already captured during the NIN enrollment, why do that again?
As long as their is human contact in the process, believe me, there will still be corruption, delays and inefficiencies. What is worth doing is worth doing well’
@CHIDIEB12032004: ‘Here comes the problem. The moment you walk into Immigration office the bojuboju will start and you must part money or else you capture yourself since you sabi how to fill forms online. Oga nothing has been solved here’.
@Mild_Kerr: ‘This is commendable but since we did biometric for NIN, why do we need to do another biometric?’
@bunmiokunowo: ‘Minister @BTOofficial, why do we need Step 4 (i.e. walk into an Immigration Office for your Biometric Capture)? Is the biometric data not captured and stored in NIMC for your system to verify against?’
@Seun_Nues: ‘While i commned this as a good job, it still does not eliminate human contact.
I already did Biometrics while enrolling for NIN, there is no need repeating it again since i’m using the same NIN.
Corrupt officials will still have chance to continue their practices’.
@AbooMuhammad5: ‘Y do I have to go for renewal of my biometrics when u have my details with @nigimmigration.Y can’t u use my details in your archive to generate new passport.Since fingerprints don’t change.My pictures that can change has been uploaded’.
@ladmandadon: ‘The human contact with Immigration officers is where the corruption and time-wasting start from. Until something is done… Not much difference but kudos to him for all the improvement so far. May God bless him’.
@HAFeromma: ‘Just say he relaunched because this is not new. I renewed my passport online in 2022. I first applied for my passport online in 2008. What is different?’
@revcitizin: ‘This minister wants to claim something that has been in existent before his appointment. He should work on eradicating the corruption at immigration offices and see Nigerians hail him rather than claim an automation that has been in existent before Tinubu even became president’.
@dejiakintunde: ‘The weakest link I see in this process is the part where you have to come in for biometrics capture. This is not far from the old process. Officials will still use ‘magomago’ to apportion biometric capture dates. I hope the weakest link is fortified against human manipulations’.
@DupeJimoh1: ‘I hope @nigimmigration personnel allows the #Server to work uninhibited’.
@victourofficial: ‘The main problem is still there, you fit use 10weeks just to get captured, if na lie visit headquarter you go see population’.
@olaair: ‘This is highly commendable and well done to the minister. However, this is Nigeria. The civil servants will simply move their ROGA collection to the biometric centres’.
@LORDWALEXY: ‘As I see walk into for biometric capture I just hiss, that’s where the corruption gangangangangan deh wait patiently for us all-.
@mcpaper007: ‘They will get you at number 4, don’t worry’
@Mayua_olatunde: ‘I think the step 4 can be decentralise, just like register for jamb. It must not be at immigration office that’s where the problems lies. If they can make it such a way someone can walk into any cafe and get it done it will be better’.
@Truetalkingmast: ‘Here comes the issue again, immediately you walked in to any immigration office my brother, come tomorrow the person on seat is not available, “but i have someone who can help capture you in time” you see this phrase money go come out from your purse. Na 9ja we de, we get method’.
@BossLakryM: ‘I commend you sir.How about you allow Biometric to be done by banks as well. That’s the nearest bank to you so it can reduce the no of people who have to go to immigration offices. Or perhaps just use NIN biodata since it has all of the information. You’re doing so well sir.’
@56OGood: ‘Nothing is automated here..he’s has just curated the existing protocols.
Real automation wouldn’t require biometric capture at an immigration office which is where the original problem exists… Whatever is what doing is worth doing well?
