The Federal Government Friday said it was committed to clearing the backlog of passport applications and issuance latest May 31st, 2021.
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola disclosed this when he received the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Management Staff of the Commission in Abuja.
He said the ministry has introduced sweeping reforms as it concerns passport applications and issuance.
Aregbesola stressed that a regime of not more than ’72 Hours Express Passort Processing’ is underway outside Nigerian Missions.
He said “whoever holds a Nigerian passport is a bonifade citizen with dignity and respect””.
On managed migration, Minister promised to work with strategic agencies to see that migration is profitable to the migrant and to the country of stay and homeland.
He applauded NIDCOM for her giant strides so far describing the Commission as, “a veritable tool for strong and worthy engagement with the Nigerian Diaspora.”
On her part, the Chairman/CEO NIDCOM Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa commended the Minister’s effort in making the passport application and issuance seamless as well as the ten years validity period as first of its kind in Nigeria.
The NiDCOM Boss said, “this is cheering news for Nigerians in the Diaspora, a situation hitherto has hampered movement and job loss”.
She stressed that it will also facilitate the reconnection process especially for African Americans whose DNA have roots with Nigeria.
The NiDCOM Boss also spotlighted on some engagements with Nigerians in the Diaspora to include: National Diaspora Day Celebrations, Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit, Quarterly Diaspora Lecture Series, among others.
