by Oke  Efagene

As from next year, all applicants for the Nigerian passport will get it within 30 minutes.

This new development was disclosed yesterday by the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, who said the move would help eliminate corruption in the ministry.

He said it was also a part of the rebranding of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

According to reports:

Moro spoke in Lagos, during the inauguration of an office complex jointly donated by Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) and Access Bank Plc to the NIS.

“In line with the rebranding agenda,   I don’t expect you to put obstacles in the way of people wanting to procure passports in order to extort money from them. Henceforth offences committed by touts would be punished by the service,” he added.

The minister blamed the delay in issuing passports on poor manpower.
“We are determined and if we develop the necessary will to do it, we would do it. That is the target of the performance contract that we signed with Mr. President,” he said just as he commended the banks for the donation.

Earlier, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, GTBank,  Segun Agbaje, described the donation of the office complex as a testimony to the partnership between the private and public sectors.

“I always say with corporate social responsibility, if you give to a community, the community would ensure that you never fail. So for us this is just the beginning, we are happy and privileged with this opportunity to partner this great institution,” Agbaje said.

On his part, the Comptroller General, NIS, David Shikfu Parradang,  said the passport office  would continue to give qualitative service  to the people and put an end to extortion.