TheCable

The Ikoyi office of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says 3,000 passports are ready for collection.

TheCable had reported that Idris Jere, acting comptroller-general of the NIS, had ordered the service’s special task force to clear the backlog of passport applications at the Ikoyi passport office.

Consequently, the Ikoyi passport office had extended its workdays to include Saturdays and Sundays in order to meet applicants’ demands.

According to NAN, Ibrahim Liman, passport control officer (PCO) in charge of the office, said the Ikoyi office had put calls across to applicants whose passports were ready for collection.

Liman, however, said the need for discreet investigation to determine the eligibility of applicants might delay the timely release of the passports.

“The Ikoyi passport office is fully committed to efficient service delivery and it will not relent in justifying its operational mandate,” Liman said.

“As the PCO of Ikoyi, I will always work with integrity. I don’t have anything to hide, the office operates an open-door policy.”

Liman warned passport racketeers to desist from the act or be ready to face the consequences of their action.

“NIS would not hesitate to discipline anyone found to be involved in defrauding or shortchanging any applicants,” he said.