The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) announced on Tuesday that it had issued 2,141,300 passports in the year 2023.
The Controller-General of NIS, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, revealed this during a diaspora virtual lecture series organized by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), with the theme, “New Passport Policy/Processes for Nigerians in the Diaspora Confirmation.”
Adepoju highlighted that the JAPA syndrome had caused a significant surge in passport applications.
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While 1.3 million passports were issued in 2021 and 1.5 million in 2022, representing a 50 percent increase, the number soared in 2023 with over 100 per cent increase, reaching 2,141,300 passports issued.
She emphasized the automation of the passport process to minimize human interaction with immigration officers, stating that this has greatly benefited passport applicants.
Since the automation went live last month, over 100,000 applications were received online, with over 80 percent processed seamlessly.
Adepoju pointed out that the reformation of the passport process would alleviate the strain on NIS facilities nationwide, where applicants, including children and vulnerable individuals, often endure long waits.
Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, assured Nigerians in the Diaspora of improved passport acquisition processes, emphasizing a new era of Renewed Hope in service delivery from the immigration service.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM, lauded the Minister and the CGI for their rapid achievements. She clarified that the lecture aimed to educate Nigerians in the Diaspora about the automation process.”