At the Alausa Passport Office in Lagos State on Wednesday, a Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officer was discovered extorting passport applicants.
Rauf Aregbesola, the interior minister, unexpectedly paid a visit to the passport office and observed the officer (name withheld) in the act.
Sola Fasure, the minister’s media advisor, made this information public in a statement.
Whilst listening to feedback from passport applicants who were waiting for their data capturing, an applicant complained about the application process, which in his opinion was cumbersome.
“After I completed my application and chose today for my data capturing appointment, I printed every necessary document.
“However, on my arrival here, I was asked to start filling a manual form again, which I had filled online and printed already,” the applicant complained.
Aregbesola thereafter asked the Passport Control Officer at the station, Mrs B. L. Bukar, to explain the breach of due process, noting that such a request was strange.
The statement said the officer who allegedly sold the form and made the request for the manual filling was identified and subsequently queried.
The minister told the officers on duty that they were servants of the people and this must be reflected in their attitude at work and the way they relate with passport applicants.
He warned them to avoid creating false gridlock that frustrates and exasperates the people.
Aregbesola advised Nigerians to follow due process in their passport application and shun patronizing touts who will end up disrupting the standardized procedure.