The Federal Government and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) are exploring ways to offset over N10 billion debt owed providers/vendors for printing of passports booklets.

The situation, it was learnt, has led to shortage of the 32-page and 64-page passport booklets.

It was gathered that within the past one year, not less than 105,000 e-passport booklets have been printed.

They include 35,000 copies of 32-page and 70,000 copies of the 64-page passport booklets.

Sources familiar with the matter said the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is spear-heading the government team while the Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mrs Kemi Nanna Nandap is heading the NIS team to address the challenges.

It was learnt they have expressed concerns on the negative impact the huge debt would have on the ongoing reforms in passport applications and acquisition by Nigerians home and abroad.

Dr Tunji-Ojo, on assumption of office, started reforms to make applications and acquisition seamless for Nigerians.

He further ensured upgrading of facilities and commissioned more e-Passport offices within and outside the country.

Over 200,000 backlogs of passports were cleared within three months.

However, recent developments indicate that the problems are yet to be over as Nigerians continue to complain about delays in acquisition of their passports.

While the NIS sources said the delays are due to shortage of booklets as a result of huge debts to printers and other service providers, Nigerians who have had contacts with NIS personnel and the treatments meted them alleged sabotage from within the NIS.

For instance, it took the intervention of the Minister for a citizen, Seun Akioye to obtain his passport from the NIS penultimate Friday.

Akioye applied online for the renewal of his passports and fulfilled all the necessary conditions but three weeks after, he continued to receive different messages from personnel of the NIS.

Becoming frustrated, Akioye raised the issue on his Facebook page which was posted on the Minister’s platform for reporters.

The development prompted the intervention of the Minister and Akioye, a former Assistant Editor of The Nation Newspaper, received his passport that same day.

However, it was learnt that the huge debt hanging on the neck of the NIS may constitute a big obstacle to the reform in the application and acquisition processes of passports.

But a source, who would not want his name mentioned, said the government has called for meetings of all stakeholders to address the challenges.

The source said: “Yes, the government and the NIS have called for dialogue on the part of all critical stakeholders. The government promised to do something regarding bureaucratic bottleneck which has been responsible for delays in payments for services rendered.

“There is another leg to the discussions. I think the Nigeria Customs Service and the Immigration Service are working in synergy as government institutions in other to address the challenges since both are expected to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“I believe on the basis of the synergy, (payments or no payments) the booklets in the warehouses of the Nigeria Customs Service would be released to the NIS very soon.

“I must however commend the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo for his tenacity and strength of character. He has raised the bar for excellent and exemplary service for the NIS. The first time we had this challenge, only God knows how he navigated the systems and ensure that Service providers and other vendors in the Passport value chain got paid.

“Of course I would not rule out the possibility of having the President’s ears or he enjoys his confidence. I also want to commend the vision and leadership of the NIS. It is heartwarming that they are leading the reforms. I just pray that the majority of the personnel would key into the ongoing changes,” the source said. (The Nation)

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