The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has banned cash payments for passport processing as part of efforts to eliminate corruption at all passport offices nationwide.
NIS spokesperson, Sunday James, disclosed this while speaking to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
He said the Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, had directed that henceforth all payments for passport processing must be done online and through designated banks.
He said the NIS boss had, in a circular, directed all passport control officers not to allow cash payments in any of the passport premises.
“All payments in respect to passport processing are to be done by applicants through banks to generate application ID and reference number on the NIS portal and not through an individual or touts,” James said.
He said Babandede has also ordered an investigation into allegations of passport racketeering at some passport offices in Lagos with a view to sanitising the system.
According to him, “Passport applicants are therefore strongly advised to visit the NIS website www.immigration.gov.ng to confirm the approved fees for all categories of Nigerian Passports and age groups before making payments.”
He said the management of all passport offices have been directed to paste all information required at the premises to guide applicants in line with the executive orders.
The NIS spokesperson advised applicants against patronising touts or agents in order to ensure efficient service delivery.
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