Interior Minister Clarifies New Passport Conditions Aimed at Enhancing Security

• Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo clarified that new passport conditions aim to prevent non-citizens from obtaining Nigerian passports, addressing previous inefficiencies
• Despite reported difficulties, he emphasized the new system’s effectiveness, with only a four percent hiccup rate and ongoing improvements

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has clarified the rationale behind introducing new conditions for acquiring or renewing international passports, emphasizing that these changes were implemented to address the issue of non-citizens obtaining Nigerian passports.

Addressing the press in Abuja, Tunji-Ojo explained that the passport is a security document exclusively designed for Nigerian citizens. The new conditions, including the requirement for a citizenship certificate, date of birth certificate, and the National Identification Number (NIN), aim to prevent non-Nigerians from exploiting the previous system’s inefficiencies.

Acknowledging the challenges faced by new passport applicants, the Minister assured the public of ongoing efforts to enhance the process in the coming weeks.

Contrary to reported difficulties, Tunji-Ojo emphasized the new system’s effectiveness, highlighting that only four percent of hiccups were recorded, signifying a significant improvement in the recently introduced process.

“We introduced this new system to prevent non-Nigerians from carrying Nigerian passports. The new process is working very effectively, and the minor challenges observed represent only four percent, a notable improvement for a newly introduced system. I assure you that we will have a near-perfect system in the next one or two weeks,” stated the Minister.

The reform aims to streamline the passport acquisition process for Nigerians, promoting a faster online application, production, and passport collection. Tunji-Ojo emphasized the importance of enhancing the passport issuance process, citing the document’s critical role in national security. The Minister highlighted the new system’s positive impact on accessibility, transparency, and efficiency.