There seems to be an end to the agony people go through to get the Nigerian passport as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Thursday
disclosed that it would unveil the enhanced e-passport centre in Port
Harcourt, Rivers State, next week.
The Controller of Immigration, Rivers State
Command, Mr. Arguing Adegoke, told journalists in Port Harcourt that the
command would commence issuance of the enhanced e-passports next Tuesday.
He said the enhanced e-passport would have 32 or 64
pages of five or 10 years validity, and would cost N35, 000 and N70,000
respectively.
While extolling the enhanced security features of
the e-passport, Adegoke, however, said those seeking the new passport must have
the National Identification Number (NIN) issued by the National Identity
Management Commission (NIMC).
According to the controller "This enhanced
e-passport has 32 pages and 64 pages with options of five years and 10 years
validity. The quality of the e-passport is better with the introduction of
polycarbonate technology in line with the global best practice."
Adegoke also said the enhanced e-passport would
reduce the hardship people go through to obtain or renew the Nigerian passport
as the filling and payment for it has to be done online before capturing which
will be done at the new NIS Office on Ana Road in Port Harcourt.
He, however, cautioned Nigerians not to panic as
the enhanced e-passport would exist side by side the current passport before it
would gradually take over.
Adegoke also noted that the issuance of the
enhanced e-passport at the Port Harcourt office would be a big relief to
residents of Rivers State and the South-south and South-east regions as people
would no more travel to Abuja to get it.
He said Port Harcourt is the fourth centre after
Abuja, Lagos and Kano to issue the enhanced e-passport in the country.
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