News
Nigerian Passports Would be Issued Within Two Weeks- Tunji-Ojo
Nigerian Passports Would be Issued Within Two Weeks- Tunji-Ojo
By: Michael Mike
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has said that from December passports would be made available in two weeks to applicants.
The Minister also promised that Nigerians would also be saved of the pains of having to wait on the queue to upload the needed information to get passport issued. He said that registration would be done online and the only thing that would be needed to be done at any passport office is the biometrics capture and the collection of issued passports.
He said the ministry is working at getting the needed equipment to make this possible in December
The minister gave the promise during a press briefing where he disclosed to journalists how the ministry, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other stakeholders achieved clearance of 204,332 passports backlogs across the country within three weeks.
The minister said it all started when Mr. President said: “look I didn’t appoint you to that ministry to give excuses, go and change the narratives, especially of passports applications and collections. Nigerians have had enough of that problem. “
He said in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the Ministry of Interior, the NIS, and other stakeholders aligned with “the talk and do” mantra of the present administration.
Tunji-Ojo revealed to journalists how the deadline he handed down on the 7th of September was delivered by the Immigration Service, stating that personnel of NIS had to do three shifts each day including Saturdays and Sundays to deliver.
According to him, the Service providers of the NIS were also made to double up their printing capacities and capabilities, especially in areas where passports backlogs were higher.
The minister said:” Yes. I gave two weeks deadline. I however have to apologise to Nigerians that we delivered on it in three weeks. We had 204,332 Nigerians whose data had been captured. And we cannot continue to watch them waiting endlessly. I visited the headquarters of the Immigration Service and told them the narratives must change.
“So in critical frontline desks like Ikeja, Alausa, Ikoyi, Ibadan, Abuja, we ordered that more printing machines be brought in by the Service providers. Then we increased the working hours of the personnel of NIS. They started running three shifts.
“Let me at this juncture commend the Acting Comptroller General of the Immigration Service, Mrs Wura-Ola Adepoju, especially for her positive responses to the pressures I mounted on her. I would call her late and demand updates, and she would provide updates. That was the spirit. “
Tunji-Ojo however revealed that so far out of the 204,332 backlogs cleared, only 94,981 have been collected by the applicants, leaving 109,351 yet uncollected.
He said while the entire backlogs were cleared as of October 1st, Nigerians should appreciate the extraordinary efforts of those who made it possible by showing up in the various offices of NIS to collect the travel documents.
He regretted that for instance in Ikoyi Passports office, 39,170 backlogs were cleared, only about 9,458 applicants have showed up to collect the booklets. And while 21,108 were cleared in Alausa, a huge number of applicants are yet to show up to collect the documents.
The Minister said to sustain the momentum, the Ministry would embark on some reforms with the NIS, stating that by December this year, Nigerians can upload all supporting documents including their passports online to the Immigration Service.
He said the measures would reduce human interfaces and corrupt practices, while bureaucratic bottlenecks that have been dismantled would not resurface anymore.
According to him, applicants would only show up at Immigration offices for biometric capturing of data as it would reduce applications and collections of passports to two weeks.
Nigerian Passports Would be Issued Within Two Weeks- Tunji-Ojo
Police Foil Robbery at Gwagwalada Motor Park, Arrest Suspect
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Police Force(NPF) FCT Command has foiled a robbery at Gwagwalada Motor Park, arresting one suspect while others fled.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that three incident occurred on Thursday at about 7:25 p.m. when a gang of 15 armed hoodlums stormed the park, attacking and robbing commuters and traders.
A distress call alerted the police, prompting the deployment of a surveillance team to the scene.
On sighting the operatives, the robbers fled, abandoning a Golf 3 vehicle with registration number RSH 193 DB.
One suspect was apprehended but was severely beaten by an irate mob before being rescued and taken to Asokoro Hospital for treatment.
Police recovered weapons from the abandoned vehicle, which has been impounded as part of ongoing investigations.
Police Foil Robbery at Gwagwalada Motor Park, Arrest Suspect
NIDCOM Demands Probe of Nigerian TikTok Workers in Kenya
By: Michael Mike
Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has highlighted the critical importance of implementing a Labour Mobility Law in Nigeria.
This reaction comes following headlines of the death of Ms. Ladi Olubunmi, a Nigerian and TikTok content moderator, employed by Teleperformance, the social media’s contracting firm in Kenya.
According to her, such legislation would establish frameworks to protect the rights and well-being of Nigerians employed abroad, ensuring proper documentation, monitoring, and support systems.
Dabiri-Erewa added that the creation of such law aims to prevent situations where Nigerian citizens face challenges related to employment conditions, mental health support, and the ability to return home when necessary.
The Chairman, NiDCOM extended heartfelt condolences to Ms. Olubunmi’s family, friends and colleagues.
She urges thorough investigation by Kenyan authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding Olubunmi’s untimely passing, while asking the Nigerian High Commission in Kenya to monitor the situation and provide necessary support to Ms. Olubunmi’s family during this challenging time.
She equally appealed to Nigerians in Kenya to remain calm throughout the whole process.
Dabiri-Erewa reiterated that the Federal Government through NiDCOM remains steadfast in its mission to protect and assist Nigerians globally.
She reminded Nigerians seeking employment abroad to engage only with reputable organisations and to be fully informed of their rights and the support structures available to them.
Ms. Olubunmi has been a staff member of the company since 2022. She was found dead and decomposing in her apartment in Nairobi, Kenya, last week, when she was absent from work for three days.
NIDCOM Demands Probe of Nigerian TikTok Workers in Kenya
France Hands Over Operational Equipment for Nigeria’s Anti-Narcotics War
By: Michael Mike
The French government has handed over some operational equipment to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to aid the ongoing war against drug trafficking.
The donation was made on Thursday by the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, who commended the operational successes of the anti-narcotics agency, especially in areas of illicit drug control and high rate of prosecution and conviction of offenders.
The envoy who handed over some operational equipment donated by the French government to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja, noted that the agency had done very well in the fight against illicit drugs and narcotics with over 57,792 arrests; 9.9 million kilogrammes of seizures and 10,572 convictions within a space of four years.
He added that Nigeria’s records of achievements in the fight against illicit drugs places the country in a good position for great partnership and collaboration with France.
The envoy said: “You’re one of the best in the world in terms of fight against illicit drugs and narcotics because of your operational successes, which give NDLEA an edge in terms of arrests, seizures, high rate of convictions and as such we can learn some lessons from you while you learn from us as well.”
In his remark, Marwa expressed appreciation for the donation of the equipment to NDLEA, noting that: “Nigeria and France have been good partners especially following the recent state visit by President Bola Tinubu to France.”
He stated that “the equipment are very important operational tools that will go a long way to enhance our work.”
He appealed for special training on investigation and cyber transactions as well as support for the Alternative Development Project initiative of the agency aimed at encouraging cannabis growers to embrace alternative crops.
France Hands Over Operational Equipment for Nigeria’s Anti-Narcotics War
Police Foil Robbery at Gwagwalada Motor Park, Arrest Suspect
NIDCOM Demands Probe of Nigerian TikTok Workers in Kenya
France Hands Over Operational Equipment for Nigeria’s Anti-Narcotics War
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
EYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
News1 year agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News12 months agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions3 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
Columns1 year agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
National News1 year agoFraud and Mismanagement Rock INGO’s IDP Cash Assistance Effort in Bama
