NIS now prohibits cash payments at passport offices

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has banned cash payments for passport processing as part of efforts to eliminate corruption at all passport offices nationwide.‎

NIS spokesperson, Sunday James, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Monday in Abuja, where he said that the Comptroller General of the NIS, Muhammad Babandede, in a circular, has directed that henceforth all payments for passport processing must be done online and through designated banks‎.‎

‎“All payments in respect to passport processing are to be done by applicants through banks to generate application ID and reference number on the NIS portal and not through an individual or touts,” James said.

‎According to him, the NIS CG has also ordered an‎ investigation into allegations of passport racketeering at some passport offices in Lagos with a view to sanitising the system.‎

James, therefore, urged passport applicants to ensure that all categories ofNigerian passports fees were done online.    ‎

‎“Passport applicants are therefore strongly advised to visit the NIS website www.immigration.gov.ng to confirm the approved fees for all categories of Nigerian Passports and age groups before making payments,” he added.

He further revealed that that the managements of all passport offices have been directed to paste all information required at the premises to guide applicants in line with the executive orders, as he urged Nigerians to direct any complaint or enquiries to 07080607900 and the email address nis.servicom@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng.

‎The spokesperson, however, advised applicants against patronising touts or agents‎ in order to ensure efficient service delivery.

‎The NIS boss had vowed to stamp out corruption in the operations of the NIS as part of efforts to reposition the Service and ensure efficient service delivery.