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FG Launches Passport Front Office in Auchi, Promises Home Delivery of Passport
FG Launches Passport Front Office in Auchi, Promises Home Delivery of Passport
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has launched an additional Passport Front Office in Auchi, Edo State, as part of it’s effort towards effective service delivery to Nigerians. This is just as it promised to launch a home delivery service of passport.
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who spoke at the opening of the Nigeria Immigration Service Passport Front Desk Office in Auchi, Edo State on Saturday, said that it is the intention of the government to provide the passport for anyone desirous of it within reasonable time at affordable price and without any stress.
He said the launch of another Passport Front Desk Office is significant as the Nigerian Passport is a proof of existence especially for those outside the country, warning that inability to produce it on demand may bring untoward consequences.
The Minister said: “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. Except for those travelling outside the country or intend to, most of those who hold the passport do so for identification purposes. For some, it is also a thing of pride to be able to brandish the green back of the passport. But for those outside the country, the passport is the proof of their existence. Inability to produce it on demand may bring untoward consequences. The government therefore wants to provide the passport for anyone desirous of it within reasonable time, at affordable price and without any stress whatsoever.
“The second is the need, flowing from the first, to break out of the regular.”
Aregbesola promised to conclude negotiations with NIPOST on the usage of its speedy mail service to start delivering passport to Nigerians who opt for such service.
He revealed that: “We are in 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.”
Aregbesola, while stating that Edo State has one of the highest passport applications in Nigeria, also revealed that the waiting period between application and collection would likely increase due to the recent increase in demand.
He said: “Our current working schedule is that fresh application would take six weeks after biometric data registration and three weeks for renewal. This is reasonable, competitive and in line with the global best practices.
“The challenge however is the waiting period at the point of application and data registration. All applicants will be put on a queue, depending on the centre of their choice, to determine the registration date. Regrettably, it might take two months in some highly competitive centres where application is very high. We have no control over this.”
He however said that the Federal Government is intentional about opening more front desk offices, in order to increase the registration centres and reduce the waiting period before biometric data capture.
He said: “It is our projection that by the time we open more front offices like this, the waiting period will not be more than three days. Indeed, the more front offices we have, the less the waiting period. Our long term plan will be to involve private operators who will provide the lounge for a fee, but the equipment and personnel will be provided by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).”
Commending the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for improving on their services, which includes issuance of top quality passport booklet, Aregbesola affirmed that Nigeria is among the first five countries in the world and the first in Africa to have the enhanced e-passport.
Adding that: “The reform introduced to the NIS led to the Automated Passport issuance process which has eliminated touts and racketeers in Passport administration, introduction of E-border Management, MIDAS and the commencement of E-Passport across Passport Control Offices and Diplomatic Missions.”
He therefore advised applicants not to go through third parties but apply on any internet enabled device through the Nigeria Immigration Service portal. This is as he lamented the prevalence of a few unscrupulous officials subverting the system, cornering applications, inflating prices, extorting from applicants and hiding already produced passports.
The Minister said: “I will therefore plead with applicants not to go through them and other touts hanging around passport offices, soliciting from applicants. The application can be done in your bedroom on your android phone through the Nigeria Immigration Service portal. You do not need a third party. Those who patronise them are the ones encouraging their nefarious activities and frustrating our efforts at transparency and providing seamless service.”
He also urged applicants to plan ahead for their travelling, as travelling requires long term planning, whether for education, work, leisure or migration, except for urgent national assignment or medical emergency.
This year alone, the Minister of Interior have been in Daura in Katsina State, Alimosho in Lagos, Ilesa in Osun, Zaria in Kaduna and Oyo in Oyo State to commission Passport Front Desk Offices.
Speaking earlier, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Isah Idris, said that the choice of Auchi is apt, as Edo State ranks fifth amongst states with the highest volume of passport applications locally.
According to him, “In the past 365 days,
Edo state has processed 56,291 applications out of the 1.5 million
passports produced in Nigeria. The commissioning of this front office will no doubt go a long way in reducing the traffic in Edo State and other neighbouring States.
The NIS CG restated the necessity for prospective applicants to synchronize the data in their passport application with the information in
their National Identification Number.
He said: “May I quickly add that for the enhanced e-passport, it is essential to ensure that prospective passport applicants synchronize the data in their passport application with the information in their NIN (National Identification Number).”
While maintaining that the unveiling of front office and others like it, are crucial to achieving the NIS mandate of ensuring that the e-passport issuance process is brought closer to the people, Jere seized the opportunity to affirm the commitment of the Nigeria Immigration Service to meeting the rising demands for Passport services globally, thereby repositioning the Service towards attaining a truly world-class status to compete with its counterparts worldwide.
Meanwhile, during a visit to the Otaru of Auchi’s Palace, the Otaru, HRH, Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh, Ikelebe III, turbaned Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and then installed him as the Rafeeq of Auchi Sacred Kingdom. The traditional ruler revealed that the title means Ogbeni Aregbesola a bossom friend of the Auchi Kingdom.
In response, the minister declared that, “everything happening here today is a surprise to me. I am excited, happy and joyous because it is coming at the right time. The depth of my joy has no word to describe it. When I retire, I plan to always wear my turban as a true and proper Muslim,” the minister declared.
FG Launches Passport Front Office in Auchi, Promises Home Delivery of Passport
Insurgency: Northeast Governors Call for Reappraisal of Strategies
By: Michael Mike
Governors of the six Northeast states of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba have called for a reappraisal of strategies in the ongoing war against insurgency in the region.
Rising from the 11th Meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) held in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital on Thursday, the governors, in a communique, noted with dismay the rising activities of the insurgents in the subregion and called for the armed forces, other security agencies and community leaders to reappraise their strategy in the counter insurgency onslaught in the region.
The Forum while commending the Federal Government in its effort at improving the security of the country and resolve to collaborate and support in all matters to address emerging security issues in the country. however noted that addressing the security challenge in the Northeast requires a multidimensional approach of not only the kinetic strategy but also addressing the root causes such as youth employment through vocational and technical education, improved road networks, improving education and reducing poverty.
The Forum promised its commitment to addressing the issues of security by tackling the current situation while addressing some of the root causes.
The Forum also noted that the poor road network in the subregion is contributing to the insecurity in the region, and called on Mr. President to as a matter of urgent concern address the issue of abandoned project which is critical to addressing poverty, insecurity and general underdevelopment of the subregion.
The Forum also recommitted itself to the opening up of the subregion to investment opportunities, agriculture for food security, combating climate change, skills acquisition and the industrialization of the subregion to provide employment to the teeming youths who are vulnerable to recruitment into the army of the insurgents.
It also noted the role of the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) in the development of the subregion and
called on the Commission to be more engaging with the various state governments on development needs and prioritize transportation infrastructure, education, and health, while equally calling on the Commission to rededicate itself to its core mandate which is to rebuild the subregion after the devastation of the insurgency and be more proactive in the delivery of existing project in the subregion by keeping track with project delivery timelines.
The Forum noted the significance of the Nigerian Law school Yola Campus within the region and resolved to support its
expansion by providing additional hostel accommodation, water supply and other facilities to improve the admission capacity of the campus and make it more conducive for training, and resolved to work closely with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE) by providing office space in each state, support the enrolment of Almajiri and out-of-school children into formal school, provision of vocational and technical education as well as develop a unified approach to addressing the menace in the subregion.
The next date for the meeting was fixed for 27th – 29th, July, 2025 in Jalingo, Taraba state, and at the meeting were Governors of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States, with the Governor of Bauchi state represented by the Deputy Governor
Insurgency: Northeast Governors Call for Reappraisal of Strategies
Kadafur paid Condolence visit to families and victims Rann and Chibok attacks
…… Call for community engagement and collaboration with security agencies
By: Our Reporter
In Rann, the Borno State Deputy Governor His Excellency Dr Umar Kadafur led a government delegation on a condolence visit to Rann, the headquarters of Kala Balge Local Government Area.
It could be recalled that a few days ago at the Furunduma area in Kala balge, an IED explosion claimed lives of over twenty people and some injured during the attack that claimed several lives and suspected to be a Boko Haram insurgents.
During the visit, the Deputy Governor and other members of the delegation prayed for the departed souls and wished them eternal rest . They also prayed for the families and the entire community to bear the irreparable loss.
Dr Kadafur condemned in the strongest terms the heinous act of the insurgents, calling for intense prayers to avert future occurrences and emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts with security operatives to sustain peace that was regained in the region.
The delegation visited Rann General Hospital to sympathize with those injured in the attack, praying for their quick recovery. The Deputy Governor announced that all medical bills for the injured would be covered.
The Deputy Governor made cash donations of N300,000 to families of the 27 affected victims and also a cash support as a morale booster to military personnel, Police force, Local vigilante, Kesh Kesh and Civilian JTF , including youths group at Rann.
The Chairman of Kala Balge Local Government Area, Hon. Zanna Ajid Musa Ajid expressed gratitude to His Excellency the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum , Deputy Governor, and the delegation for their timely support and condolences.
…….. In Chibok LGA
The delegation led by His Excellency, Dr Umar Usman Kadafur also proceeded to Chibok town on a similar condolence visit to the families of affected attack by Boko Haram insurgents, whereby fourteen people were killed, church and houses were burnt down with properties worth millions of Naira.
The deputy governor said, “We were here to sympathise with you and the families of recent attacks, lives and properties were lost whereby we can only condone you and pray for the deceased. We are here to support the families and victims but we cannot replace what has been lost, life is irreparable “.
Dr Kadafur condemned the attack and supported the families with similar cash support of 300,000 to victims families, assured that the government will support them in rebuilding their destroyed church and houses.
Members of the delegation which includes
Member Borno State House of Assembly representing kala Balge LGA Hon.Dige Mohammed , Commissioner for Religious Affairs and Former Chairman kala Balge LGA Zanna Jabu. Member House of Assembly representing chibok LGA, Former Chairman chibok and Hon.Hauwa Mai Musa .
Kadafur paid Condolence visit to families and victims Rann and Chibok attacks
One killed, another injured in Kum village ambush in Riyom
By: Zagazola Makama
A man was killed and another critically injured on Tuesday night following an ambush by unknown gunmen in Kum village, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The victims, identified as Joshua Ezekiel, 48, and Dung Jatau, 51, were reportedly riding on a motorcycle along the Riyom to Kum road at about 8:15 p.m. when they were attacked by armed men who opened fire on them.
Residents said the injured were rushed to the General Hospital in Riyom, where Ezekiel was pronounced dead on arrival. Jatau is currently receiving medical treatment and is said to be in stable condition.
Tension remains high in the area as locals express concern over the safety of rural commuters, especially during evening hours.
Community leaders in Riyom have called for calm and urged residents to remain vigilant. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the attackers.
Police said they have lunched investigation into the incident.
One killed, another injured in Kum village ambush in Riyom
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