The Comptroller–General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (CGIS), Mr. Idris Jere, on Wednesday warned officers to stay away from extortion and sharp practices in the processing of passports.
Jere gave the warning at the opening of a three-day workshop for officers and men of the Provost and Servicom Units .of NIS Zone A. Lagos.
He said that such acts constitute impediments in the process of obtaining passports.
The workshop was organized by an officer in charge of the Zone, the Assistant Comptroller–General of Immigration Service (ACGIS ), Mr. Olakunle Osisanya, to brighten- up the officials.
Jere mandated all officers and men working in passport offices to maintain a high level of discipline, and professionalism in their conduct.
According to him, NIS executes a lot of statutory functions, among which is the issuance of passports and other travel documents.
He said these statutory functions called for discipline from people within and outside the service.
The comptroller-general said the objective of the workshop was to drive home the need to respect the appointment system, towards achieving excellent service.
He said, “It is with this, among others, that henceforth, entrance into the passport offices would be based strictly on applicant’s ability to provide evidence of appointment and collection dates”.
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Jere, who was represented by Mrs. Modupe Anyalichi, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Immigration Service in charge of passport and other travel documents, said Nigerians must abide by NIS policies.
The NIS boss told the participants that the integrity of the appointment system of dates would be monitored and that any officer caught extorting applicants would face discipline.
He said that the appointment system of dates allows a proper queuing management system.
Jere advised applicants that needed to obtain a passport to apply well ahead of time to avoid unnecessary anxiety by logging into the NIS portal (www.passport.immigration.gov.ng).
“After the log-in, the applicant should fill out the application form, make payment, and choose a date and processing center of their choice.
“The applicant would then proceed to the center on the chosen date with the required documents,” he said.
While commending ACG, Osisanya, and his management team for putting up the training, he advised the participants to take full advantage of the workshop.
Other top-rank officers at the workshop include Mr. Mani Bagiwa, Comptroller, Lagos state command, and the new Comptroller of Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Mrs. Adeola Adesokan.
The Passport Control Officer ( PCO ) in – charge of the Ikoyi Passport Office, Mrs. AO Bewaji, and the new Comptroller, Passport Command, Lagos, Mrs. Udoh Robert, among others, were also present.
