The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) cleared over 204,332 backlog of passports in 10 months.

The minister of interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known while reeling out his ministry’s achievements in the last one year, at a media event  organised by the ministry on Friday in Abuja.

He assured Nigerians that never again will there be backlogs of passports in Nigeria, with the reform measure in place.

“In the last year, we introduced advanced border management technologies, including GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and other surveillance tools and infrastructure, to enhance national security.

“This technology allows for better monitoring and control of Nigeria’s extensive borders, ensuring that our immigration services are prepared to face modern security challenges.

‘As you are aware, we embarked on a comprehensive overhaul of the passport issuance process, addressing long-standing issues that have frustrated millions of Nigerians.

“One of our key accomplishments was clearing a massive backlog of 204,332 passport applications, a backlog that had left many citizens stranded for months, if not years,” he said.

He said,”Today, I can proudly say that we have not only addressed this challenge but we have introduced home delivery services for passports.”

Mr Tunji-Ojo said that the innovation was to ensure that Nigerians no longer have to endure the stress of traveling long distances or waiting in long queues all in the name passport.

“Passports are now delivered directly to the homes of applicants, a service that has brought immense relief to thousands.

“The NIS has also implemented contactless technology, streamlining the passport application process and improving overall efficiency.

“The days of bottlenecks and endless paperwork are behind us. Today, Nigerians experience a faster, more transparent and seamless passport issuance process.

“We have also established a cutting-edge data centre at the NIS with an impressive storage capacity of 1.4 petabytes.

“This state-of-the-art facility is designed to securely house and manage a vast array of critical national information, including the biometric data and personal records of Nigerian citizens,” he added.

The minister explained that the efforts were to ensure the safe storage and retrieval of sensitive information and enhance the efficiency of national security operations, identity management and service delivery across the country.

According to him, eight are to be installed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, 21 slated for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, and four each at Kano, Enugu, and Port Harcourt airports.

“This is to offer diasporan Nigerians and returning citizens an automated, hassle-free screening process. This innovation not only improves efficiency at entry points but also ensures that our citizens abroad return home with pride and ease.

“We also made tremendous progress in international collaborations by enhancing our partnerships with global agencies to combat transnational crimes such as human trafficking, illegal immigration, and smuggling.

“These partnerships have bolstered our efforts to safeguard national security while contributing to the global fight against organised crime.

“Furthermore, the integration of Nigerian passports into global standards (ICAO PKD and PKI) have further solidified the NIS as a key player on the international stage,” he said.

The minister added that the initiatives were to enhance both access and security, thereby, making Nigerian passports more secure and respected worldwide.

(NAN)