A looming scarcity of e-passport booklets in Nigeria has been signaled due to the accumulation of a significant production debt, amounting to N16 billion, owed to vendors and stakeholders involved in the travel document’s value chain.
According to reports by Leadership, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters revealed that the situation arises from the non-payment of substantial debts to key stakeholders in the passport production process.
A senior official at the passport office within the NIS headquarters disclosed in the report that the gross income derived from passport applicants is directed to the Nigeria Immigration Service Treasury Single Account (TSA).
However, before funds are allocated for the production process, the federal government deducts 50% of the revenue, leaving insufficient funds for servicing vendors and stakeholders.
The official highlighted an example where the cost of a 32-page passport booklet outside Nigeria amounts to $132, while the 64-page category costs $230.
Despite these fees being paid in dollars, the revenue is channeled into the Federal Account and distributed among the three tiers of government monthly by the Federation Account Committee (FAAC).
Top source within NIS revealed, “Let me give you an example. The cost of the 32-page passport booklet outside Nigeria is $132, while the cost of the 64-page category is $230. If you apply outside Nigeria and you pay in dollars, the money goes straight into the Federal Account, which is shared amongst the three tiers of government every month by the Federation Account Committee (FAAC).”
The officer confirmed that currently, a shortage of 32-page passport booklets is reported across the 48 passport-issuing outlets outside Nigeria and 44 outlets within the country, while an excess of 64-page booklets exists due to low demand.
“Our service providers are owed over N16 billion while printed booklets are stuck in warehouses due to our inability to offset these huge debts.
“The Customs Service, DHL and two Nigerian banks are amongst service providers that are insisting on the payment of their outstanding N16 billion balance before the documents would be released to us.
“As a matter of fact, we are meant to understand that the manufacturing firms based in Slovenia, Malaysia, and another in Malta handling the e-passport projects are yet to be reimbursed in line with our agreement to always make payment two weeks after printing and supplying the e-passports,” he added.
