FirstNigeriaTV’s Akerele Isaac recently visited the Alimosho Office of the Nigeria Immigration Service to follow-up on the processes of travel passport issuance through the office.
He had chats with a number of prospective applicants as well as those who already had their passports at hand through the same office and here reports:
Alhaji Usman Dodo-Hassan (32):
I had actually contemplated travelling to my home state of Kogi to procure passports for myself, wife and only child since I understood that it was easier to procure upcountry than in Lagos due to competition but when I again looked at the total of costs, I decided to do it in Lagos.
I had earlier tried to get it at the Ikeja Passport Office but for a good number of times, my passport photo was rejected owing to incompliance(as the attending officers insisted) but when I got here at Alimosho, the office graciously handled the issue of photograph and here I am today, just in three weeks, collecting mine and those of my family members.
Mr. Olugbenga Afolabi (43):
Let me first of all say that the promise of the government that passports can be procured online is far from the truth as I have met with a lot of people here who had tried to apply online without success. The major part of the application process that nullifies is the part of uploading passport photographs. I only succeeded in the photograph upload when I got here at Alimosho.
However, I am thankful to the Alimosho Office for ensuring speedy outcome of my passport as I was notified to come and pick it within a month of onset of offline application.
Mrs. Dupe Adagunodo (37):
My family had been on the issue of passport for about two years now for the purpose of joining my husband who had been out of the country.
I had initial ordeals with touts who promised at each time to procure the passport for me, after paying some huge sums of money, some of which they claimed were meant for obtaining exemptions of appearance but on getting here at Alimosho, although the whole process seemed cumbersome for the first few days, I am delighted that at last hope was established and I received my passport within time limit.
Mr. Harry Ikemefuna (56):
I actually only came here for renewal of my passport and as you know, it is expected that I do not face the amount of hassles new passport applicants would face. However, I wish to say that from my observation at this office, the federal government needs to do more in terms of provision of work inputs for the immigration offices nationwide so that the process of application and procurement could be further facilitated.
Anselm Etukudo (41):
No doubt about the fact that it is still not workable up till now to obtain the passport online as touted nationwide by the federal government. I think that is pure lip service.
My advise for anyone who wants to obtain the international passport is to go to any of the offices of the NIS in their neighborhood to apply especially since the organisation now has as many outlets as possible in all the states of the federation.