The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has directed passport offices across the country to work on Saturdays to clear the backlog of passport applications.
This is contained in a statement made available by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Tony Akuneme, in Abuja on Saturday, November 26, 2022.
Akuneme said that the Comptroller-General, Mr Isa Jere, who gave the directive, also approved the deployment of Passport Controllers to Ondo and Ekiti states.
He said the directive was to enable the Service to reduce the backlog occasioned by the 2020 and 2021 prolonged lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The C-G has directed that Passport offices across the country with a high volume of pending applications, work on Saturdays.
“The period for this exercise is expected to be every Saturday commencing from December 3, 2022, to January 28, 2023, between the period of 10am to 2pm.
“This is to enhance our service delivery to our esteemed clients.
“The Saturday proceeding the Christmas and New Year holidays are exempted, ” he said.
The spokesman said passport offices that fall within this category should contact him by Monday for further details.
Akuneme reiterated the resolve of the C-G to make passport services available and stress-free to the travelling public, especially during the festive season.