Corruption: Nigeria Immigration Service Bans Cash Payments At Passport Offices

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has placed a ban on cash payments for passport processing as part of measures to eradicate corruption at all passport offices nationwide.‎

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday by the NIS spokesperson, Sunday James, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to him, the Comptroller General of the NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede, has directed that henceforth all payments for passport processing must be done online and through designated banks‎.‎

James also said that the NIS boss had, in a circular, directed‎ all passport control officers not to allow cash payments in any of the passport premises.

‎“All payments in respect to passport processing are to be done by applicants through banks to generate application ID and reference number on the NIS portal and not through an individual or touts,” he said.

‎He added that the NIS CG has also ordered an‎ investigation into allegations of passport racketeering at some passport offices in Lagos with a view to sanitising the system.‎

James, therefore, urged passport applicants to ensure that all categories of Nigerian passports fees were done online. ‎

“Passport applicants are therefore strongly advised to visit the NIS website www.immigration.gov.ng to confirm the approved fees for all categories of Nigerian Passports and age groups before making payments,” he added.

He said that the management of all passport offices have been directed to paste all information required at the premises to guide applicants in line with the executive orders.

‎He urged Nigerians to direct any complaint or enquiries to 07080607900 and the email address nis.servicom@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng.

The spokesperson advised applicants against patronising touts or agents‎ in order to ensure efficient service delivery.