The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has disclosed that the federal government has plans to launch a home delivery service for passports.
Aregbesola made the announcement at the opening of the Nigeria Immigration Service Passport Front Desk Office in Auchi, Edo State.
The minister noted that the launch of the passport office is the sixth of its kind in 2023 and is part of efforts to bring passport application processing closer to the people.
According to the minister, the government intended for individuals desirous of having a passport to do so within a reasonable time, and at an affordable price, without any stress.
“What we are doing here is significant for two main reasons. The first is the right (and even the necessity) of Nigerians, especially those in the diaspora, to hold the Nigerian passport,” Aregbesola said.
“Except for those travelling outside the country or intending to, most of those who hold a passport do so for identification purposes. For some, it is also a thing of pride to be able to brandish the greenback of the passport.”
“But for those outside the country, the passport is the proof of their existence. The inability to produce it on demand may bring untoward consequences.
“The government, therefore wants to provide the passport for anyone desirous of it within a reasonable time, at an affordable price, and without any stress whatsoever. The second is the need, flowing from the first, to break out of the regular.”
Aregbesola added that the government is at the final stage of concluding negotiations with NIPOST to begin using its speed mail service to deliver passports to Nigerians wherever they are in the world after production.
THEGUARDIAN
