Reps give immigration 72 hours to clear backlog of passport booklet applications

THE House of Representatives has asked the Federal Ministry of Interior to review its agreement with the passport printing company to boost the production of the booklets.

This is as the lower chamber issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigeria Immigration Service  to clear its backlog of applications for passport booklets.

The green chamber gave the resolutions following  the adoption of a motion sponsored by Ugonna Ozurigbo from Imo state.

Leading the debate on the motion, Ozurigbo argued that  the long wait for the international passport has brought “untold hardship on Nigerians with urgent needs to travel out of the country.”

“Nigerians who are on medical referrals outside the country are developing needless health complications while waiting for their passports to be issued while those on urgent business trips have missed rewarding opportunities due to the unavailability of passport booklets to enable them to travel,” he said.

Ozurigbo also said the scarcity is “breeding a class of passport racketeers who extort innocent citizens with the promise to assist.”

While adopting the motion the legislature also mandated its committees on interior and foreign affairs to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks.