Nigeria Immigration Service formally suspends issuance of new passports

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has suspended the issuance of fresh passports between the 17th and 31st May 2021 to enable it to clear the current backlog.

This was disclosed by the Comptroller General of the Service Muhammad Babandede in Abuja at a media briefing on Innovations and Administration for Ease in Passport Issuance and Processing on Tuesday.

The directive, which took effect on May 17, was disclosed in a statement signed by the Deputy Comptroller General, AB Yarima.

The statement described the suspension as a necessary step to ease the preparation for the commencement of a new passport regime.

“This directive, which comes into effect from today, May 17, 2021, has become necessary to allow enough time to clear all backlog of applications sequel to the commencement of the new passport regime on June 1, 2021,” said the NIS.

It added, “Consequent upon the foregoing, all PCOS are therefore directed to utilise this period, May 17, 2021, to May 31, 2021, to ensure that all backlogs are produced and handed over to command comptrollers for collection by members of the public concerned.” 

All offices nationwide were advised to comply with the suspension of all applications until June 1.