TheCable

“#GettingNigerianPassport is like getting honey from bees. Sounds good and adventurous until you try.” Favour Olufunmilayo.

Ogunbowale Olugbenga, a digital skills expert, had to pray, fast, wait a month, and run a thread on twitter before he could get his passport, 24 hours from missing his Visa appointment.

If he decided to pay N40,000 to an immigration official, he could have got the passport in a day. But as a law-abiding citizen, he didn’t. After his personal diary was published by TheCable, he got his passport the same day.

Olugbenga’s case is one in thousands as Nigerians go through different hurdles in obtaining the passport which ordinarily is not meant to take more than 72 hours.

While most Nigerians shared their bitter experiences from different offices of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), stating how they had to bribe officials, there
were few cases where some said they followed due process and got their passport in record time.

Nigerians shared their experiences with TheCable below.

I obtained my Int'l passport from Immig. Office in Osogbo, Osun State. After payment was made, I waited for hours before I could be captured. After data capture, I was told that if I want to have the passport in time, a fee must be paid. I paid 7K extra & got it after 2 weeks.

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— 🇳🇬 Jarex2 🇳🇬 (@jarex2_official) March 28, 2019

It is a racket in the Minna immigration office, If you know the right Racket you will pay 25k for it.

— Baba Musa (@elbabsy) March 28, 2019

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CRY FOR HELP!
Hello The Cable my name is Godwin Osaro I live in #Lagos, and I am really getting frustrated by the #Nigeria immigration passport office in Ikoyi. #GettingNigerianPassport Cc @DrJoeAbah @toluogunlesi @Omojuwa @nigimmigration @abellodam @MinOfInteriorNG pic.twitter.com/BYBSYFnGdG

— TheCable (@thecableng) March 28, 2019

Nigeria immigration services is one ofbtge most corrupted agency in the country, they have official price of about #11k in their site, but you will pay nothing less than #30,000 minimum for you to get passport.

— Moses Duruiheoma (@NwokemMoses) March 28, 2019

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ATLANTA PASSPORT OFFICE STINKS!
It is worse in Atlanta… my son was in Atlanta two days ago for his passport and he was told it will be ready in May. The worst part is the shabby treatment being meted out to people at the Nigerian Embassy in Atlanta… #GettingNigerianPassport pic.twitter.com/qgpT6M3Qth

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— TheCable (@thecableng) March 29, 2019

Sometimes getting a Nigerian passport is more difficult than getting a visa

— Mansa ESO (@just_ralaw) March 28, 2019

Why is it that getting a Nigerian passport in embassies abroad seems to be easier than gettingbone back home?

— precious o. (@preciouso) March 28, 2019

2017 applied through immigration portal was given interview date for 2025, I emailed them to complain no response till date.
I just let the money go, and went to their office paid 30k for a 32 page and I got it.
It is just sad.

— A world without guns (@sleem4) March 28, 2019

In 2016 i went to Gwagwalada passort office of the Nigeria Immigration Service and i paid N25,000 for my passport and got it 8hrs later.

— Gen. Yunus Jnr.|GMB❁ (@yunusxonline) March 28, 2019

Immigration office Ibadan currently experiencing passport booklets scarcity.Some officers told us anonymously that they are not sure when booklets will be available. People have been waiting for months after capturing. Many applicants wait under the shed to be captured everyday

— IbadanCity ANNOUNCER (@ibcityannouncer) March 28, 2019

What a coincidence. Currently at Ikoyi and four years later, the processes haven't changed. Meanwhile, there have been advancements in technology. Hoping not to write an article…

— Dolapo Aina (@DolapoAina) March 28, 2019

https://twitter.com/HM_Odogwu1/status/1111203823421456385

We don’t have to fast and pray to get passport. However, you just have to pay a specific amount at the immigration office, if you want to get it on time. It’s sad, but what can we do? I had to pay over 30k at Osogbo, to get mine in hours!

— Kvng Timmy👑🇳🇬 (@timmy_jonez) March 28, 2019

I don't understand why we like making life hard for ourselves in Nigeria. Have 2 passport options, standard and express. Express costs more and goes to pay for the people and extra effort to process it. https://t.co/1El6lDocF9

— Ikpeme Neto (@docneto) March 28, 2019

I paid 65k for 3 passports for myself, a minor and an aged person. I was told 3 wks since Feb ending. Now I'm hearing no booklet @nigimmigration @NigImmigServ Ikoyi. There are plans to travel in April but at this rate, I don't know anymore. Sm1 got hers for 35k in Ikj within 1wk.

— Nonye Yomi-Akinyemi (@Omomemi) March 28, 2019

The two passport I got…I mean one expired and I got another one,I had to do it through fast track…paid 30,000 to get my passport within a week…why cant the staff do their work normally instead of the fast track system #GettingNigerianPassport

— Sanni Olayinka Fatimot (@fat33mah) March 28, 2019

I captured Feb 6,
Collection date was Feb 27,
Today is March 28, my passport is still not yet ready.
While those who captured early Feb and paid twice of what i paid have collected their passport.
All the officers are highly corrupt and care about money alone.

— Mon Pure (@Brainopaedia) March 28, 2019

At Ikoyi Immigration for a renewal, i submitted my old passport. After 2 months new passport was issued but old passport (which contained my valid visas) was said to be missing. I had to call embassies to cancel the visas. Some shady stuff going on there #GettingNigerianPassport

— Frodo of the Shire (@shire_frodo) March 28, 2019

Paid 28k, came back 3days later for recapturing and later for collection. I got there around past 11 for collection and did not leave until past 6pm. I gave #500 making 1k with tip for capturing. A guy came around 5 and collected before me. He don tip them. You just must tip!! https://t.co/iaBXwfIuzb

— Babatope OmoEkiti (@TadeDetule) March 28, 2019

I got mine in July 2018 at the Nigeria Mission to the UN in New York and the experience was fantastic. My son got his in ikoyi in April 2018 and it was a nightmare.

— Funmi Balogun (@FunmiB) March 28, 2019

I am currently having a terrible experience getting my passport after capturing since December 31. I need an urgent help right now. Corruption is real..

— Kusimo Johnson (@JohnsonKusimo) March 28, 2019

After paying #27,000 for #Nigeriapassport the officer ??‍♂️ still ask for a tip for helping you fast track your passport processing. Then I ask myself if it’s supposed to take donkey years to get processed.

— ??‍♂️ AJANTALA (@triacion) March 28, 2019

With the stories from @thecableng TL I'm in a dilemma on an approach 4 PP renewal for I and my daughter, and her nanny (requires a new PP). In PHC, everything is double double. I hope this #GettingNigerianPassport will catalyst a favourable experience 4us. Keep u posted.

— BeeA (@abiyeabibo) March 28, 2019

It is terrible! If you applied through their web portal, nobody will attend to your file. Just go to their office, discuss and paid the specified amount to the officer, gbam! Your passport is ready within 24 hrs.

— Agbegbanigbon (@kehinde_issa) March 28, 2019

Maxwell Onuoha and a couple of Nigerians followed due process and got their passport in record time.

My Experience getting #Nigerian Passport
Short Thread.

I took these steps because of what I learnt from @DrJoeAbah

I already had mine. So this process was to get one for my brother. On 04/01/19, I paid 17800 online for the passport. A date for capturing was assigned.

— MAXWELL (@MaxwellOnuoha) March 28, 2019

I got my own smoothly within 24 hours at yobe state immigration service headquarters.

— Engr. Salisu Barde (@salebarde1) March 28, 2019

Funny enough I had no issues getting a passport. I have been to both Minna an Ilorin offices and I got it the same day. Though I wouldn’t dare during hajj season. I think Lagos offices are overwhelmed

— abiola olubiyi (@abiola_olubiyi) March 28, 2019

I once took my grandma for renewal at Ikoyi office few years back, the crowd was overwhelming for an old woman so I decided to drive her down to Abeokuta office. to my surprise we got her passport same day.

— Wale III (@arijoniglimited) March 28, 2019

I think the corruption in most of our govt. agencies are surviving because the masses are not ready to patiently follow due process without paying for fast-track.
It's a systemic problem across most agencies especially in NIS, FRSC among others.

— Barbatuneday™️ 🌏 (@barbatuneday) March 28, 2019

I obtained my Int'l passport from Immig. Office in Osogbo, Osun State. After payment was made, I waited for hours before I could be captured. After data capture, I was told that if I want to have the passport in time, a fee must be paid. I paid 7K extra & got it after 2 weeks.

— 🇳🇬 Jarex2 🇳🇬 (@jarex2_official) March 28, 2019

You are not alone. A friend of mine traveled to Osun because Oyo had booklet scarcity. Another friend told me He traveled to the north because He could not get his passport in his state. Why is the booklet as scarce as Gold? #GettingNigerianPassport #FixNigeriaImmigration

— Gbenga Ogun (@gbengaogun) March 28, 2019

What it the country turning to sef ? You pay 💰 huge to get your country’s passport then you still have to wait under the sun to get it. It’s not just fair

— Daney🌺💫 (@dantheboo) March 28, 2019

MY INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT ORDEAL
One of the things i hate getting involved in this country is anything associated to registration with the govt. But you cant runaway from it@thecableng @Omojuwa @DrJoeAbah @HenshawKate #GettingNigerianPassport #FixNigeriaImmigration

— AMAT (@AminatModupe2) March 28, 2019

To be honest,this Ikoyi passport office gives high level of stress, Festac branch will tell you no booklet, Ikeja branch is hustling for those who want express passports and pay huge money for it and abandon the regulars to wait in futility. 🤦🏼‍♀️

— Chispain (@Chispain_) March 28, 2019

There's corruption racketeering in the NIS. It's been going on only God knows when. Until passport issuance is decentralised we would continue to witnessed the fraud in NIS.

— ‏أولوميد أولوفيس Physayor De Diamente (@hooluphysayor) March 28, 2019

I got my passport about four years ago or so. Back then things were quite difficult and it could take a week for you to get it if you didn’t pay extra or bribe someone.

But #GettingNigerianPassport is like getting honey from bees. Sounds good and adventurous until you try. https://t.co/SupC6FOoqs

— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🛂 (@DrOlufunmilayo) March 28, 2019

It is not enough for @nigimmigration to attend to 1 or 2 cases here. What #GettingNigerianPassport has shown is there are thousands of cases all over Nigeria. We need to #FixNigeriaImmigration@DrJoeAbah @thecableng

— Gbenga Ogun (@gbengaogun) March 28, 2019

The amount of time it takes depends on a number of factors – number of applicants, attitudes of the staff, facilities available, corrupt intent and adequate supply of the relevant details. Of all these, the most prevalent are corrupt intent, and attitudes.

— Mohammed Abdulkarim (@Mohammedy_Ak) March 28, 2019

I paid 35k to renew my passport at Ibadan immigration office since February 2019. Till date, I am yet to receive it. Stories of lack of booklet is endless.

— Dr Ụzọr Ngọladi (@uzorngoladi) March 29, 2019

These guys at alausa passport office and ikoyi are all touts, every time no booklet no booklet , no booklet, no booklet from abuja,

— JOE AYO?? (@JOEAYOR) March 28, 2019

My brother was at immigration last week in Lagos and was told that they had run out of booklets! I don’t understand how you can run out of booklets. This is a major revenue earner for them & people might have emergencies for which they need the passport #GettingNigerianPassport

— Uju Obuekwe (@UjuObuekwe) March 28, 2019