Unannounced Inspection: Interior Minister Criticises Passport Processing Delays in Abuja

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday carried out a surprise inspection of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja, where he openly reprimanded officials over slow service delivery and warned applicants against making unofficial payments.

The minister toured the VIP and Children sections of the facility, engaging directly with officers and passport applicants. He expressed concern that several applicants were still waiting hours after the office should have begun full operations, describing the situation as unacceptable for a unit meant to offer expedited services.

Tunji-Ojo cautioned immigration officials against demanding additional money from applicants under any guise, insisting that passport fees already cover all required services. He stressed that excuses such as lack of diesel or consumables would no longer be tolerated.

Visibly displeased by the low number of applicants attended to by mid-morning, the minister questioned the pace of enrolment and biometric capturing, noting that each applicant should be processed within minutes if systems were functioning properly.

Immigration officers admitted that although official opening time was 8am, activities commenced much later due to power supply issues, with the generator reportedly switched on around 9am.

The minister criticised the practice of completing enrolment for all applicants before starting biometric capturing, arguing that both processes should run simultaneously to reduce waiting time. He pointed out that many applicants had other commitments and should not be subjected to avoidable delays.

He also faulted the underuse of the VIP and Children section, stating that applicants from overcrowded sections could have been redirected to ease congestion at no extra cost.

Reiterating his stance on public service, Tunji-Ojo reminded officers that the uniform symbolises sacrifice and responsibility to citizens, not privilege or entitlement. He emphasised that efficiency, fairness and respect for applicants’ time must remain the core standards across all passport offices nationwide.