By 
By Charles Nwabardi
The Nigeria Immigration service (NIS) has urged Nigerians to stop giving money to officers
According to NIS, it is not only criminal on the part of the applicants but also wrong for officers to demand money to facilitate the process.
The Public Relations Officer of NIS, Amos Okpu confirmed that a 32-page international passport will cost only N26,000.
Okpu said recently that NIS remains one of the foremost agencies that embraced online applications and payment processes long ago.
“For instance, applications and payment for Passports are expected to be made via passport.immigration.gov.ng by the applicants themselves. “This is intended to eliminate all forms of cash transactions and also simplify the process across our offices.
“I must note that we don’t yet have a perfect system but we constantly request our people to endeavour to follow the process we have emplaced. We also expect our people to make conscious efforts to plan their travels well ahead of time to avoid last minute rush.”
“At the moment, we have a Passport appointment system in place but you find mounting requests for waivers of course, this will not allow for neat processes and procedures”
“On how to report officers demanding money, Okpu further urged Nigerians to stop paying money to immigration officers and immediately report officers”
“The online process is there first to eliminate cases of anyone demanding any money. “
According to Okpu, applicants who sit in the comfort of their homes/offices to apply&make payments wouldn’t be talking about frustration by anyone.
The categories of passport and prices
approved by NIS include: 32-page five-year validity (Adults and Minors); 64 page five-year validity (Adults and Minors); 64 page 10-year validity (Adults (18+) only) and 32 Page five-year Official Passport.
Others are: 32 pages standard- N26,000 including bank charges, 64 Page five-year Standard Passport- N35, 000, 64 Page 10-year Standard Passport for adults only 18 years and above is N70, 000
Immigration explained: “If you reside outside Nigeria, you will be required to submit your application at the preferred Nigeria Embassy/High Commission or Consulate you selected during the online application.
You have to also note that applicants are required to appear at the passport office chosen during online application for photograph and Biometric data capturing if current passport is more than six months old.
Data on the old passport will also be the same as what will appear on the New Passport”
The Immigration Spokesperson revealed that the rating of Nigerian passport jumps to 3rd position in global ranking.
Meanwhile, Nigerian passport has moved up three places in the global ranking to sit at 100th most powerful. The change also brings the good news that holders of Nigerian passports can now travel to 46 countries visa-free.
There are also three other countries where Nigerians can travel and get visas on arrival.
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