The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has introduced a passport tracking technology to help applicants track and collect passports remotely.
The technology equally helps officials in their duties.
It also improves the process of issuance and collection of passports.
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This is coming on the heels of the existing development where applicants would have to make frequent visits to the NIS offices to know if their applications are ready or successful.
Also, it will help stop the trend whereby applicants try to rubbish the new system by bribing NIS personnel to jump the process.
The tracking system will also help to reduce physical interface with personnel, overcrowding and arbitrariness.
Before the introduction of the new system, corruption, bribery, overcrowding and the likes held sway.
This development robs people of their time, money and disrupts their plans.
Also, applicants sometimes, would wait for longer periods before collecting their passports.
For instance, imagine having to leave your place of work and visiting the NIS office on the date you were to come only to be told that your application was not successful or that your passport is not yet ready for collection.
Meanwhile, disclosing this to newsmen, the acting comptroller-general, NIS, Isah Jere Idris, said the technology will save time and cost for applicants.
Speaking on Saturday at a virtual media briefing, Idris noted thus:
He said with the new technology, applicants will no longer have to make frequent physical visits to the NIS offices.
Idris said it will save them the frequent visits while trying to confirm the availability of their passports and subsequent collection.
He added that NIS will also introduce a new system for the national identity number (NIN) validation.
“As part of the efforts to improve the process of issuance and collection of passports, the NIS has introduced a passport tracking system.
“With the system, applicants can now trace the status of their passports from the comfort of their homes,” he said.
“Within the next four weeks, NIS will deploy a new system that will enable applicants to validate their national identity numbers before they can proceed to make payment for passports online and to book appointments for capturing.”
How To Track and collect your International Passport using NIS New Tracking Technology:
The NIS boss said you can track the progress of your application by logging on to the portal for tracking your passport.
To log on, visit the NIS tracking portal, to www.track.immigration.gov.ng .
After login onto the portal, you would need to provide your details so that you can track your passport.
Idris said the “system is already in place and Nigerians should take advantage of it.”
He further decried attempts by many Nigerians
He said some applicants encourage corruption by “seeking to jump the process by turning in myriads of requests for waiver for all conceivable reasons.”
Idris condemned the act and said the NIS ensures “compliance.”
The applicants must comply with the three-week duration for passport renewal and six-week duration for new applications.
Also, he explained the reason behind the delays in passport processing.
Idris said it could be as a result of the integration of data between NIS and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
He said the process also involves integrating with the BVN data of applicants.
The NIS boss said the single data integration policy of the government was aimed at enhancing the nation’s security architecture.
He said this will in turn protect the identity of Nigerians.
“Apart from this, because passports confer on holders the integrity of a nation.
He said, “the integrity of producing such documents should also not be compromised.”
“So, we must verify the addresses of the applicants and there is a company that already does that for us. We must confirm the authenticity of the claims before we proceed for production.”
Implications:
The new system is a welcome development as it would hep curb corruption and help applicants track and collect passport.
It will also help save time and money for applicants.
The system will equally help evolve the process of passport processing through tracking and collection.
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