Abuja, Nigeria – Applicants seeking international passports in Abuja have leveled serious accusations against personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), alleging widespread extortion and misconduct. Despite the recent directive from the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to cleanse the immigration system, these allegations indicate that little has changed in the passport application process.
Applicants who spoke during separate interviews expressed frustration and dissatisfaction with the system, claiming that NIS officials demanded various sums of money from them in exchange for timely passport issuance. They also alleged that the electronic passport application system had been compromised, leaving those who followed the proper procedures with no option but to “settle” NIS officials.
Some even claimed that, upon receiving the notice that their passports were ready, they were required to make an additional payment of N5,000 before collecting their passports.
One applicant, Mr. Ahmed Isa, a civil servant, revealed that he had made over ten trips to the passport office since September in an attempt to obtain a passport for international travel. “First, they said the fee was N35,500, but now they have raised it to N55,500 for a five-year passport,” he lamented. “This chaotic process has left everyone telling you to pay more, and it’s truly frustrating.”
Another applicant, Mohammed Umar, shared his experience of being asked for an additional “compliance fee” while applying for a passport renewal. When he inquired about the purpose of this fee, the NIS official simply walked away without explanation.
An anonymous applicant recounted applying for passport renewal online in August 2022 and was still awaiting her passport. Every time she visited the immigration office to track its progress, officials directed her to contact an unknown individual who, in their view, was helping her. This applicant expressed her frustration and disappointment with the lack of transparency in the process.
Blessing Ibiyemi, another passport applicant, revealed that her inability to obtain a passport on time had cost her a scholarship abroad, despite following due process. “I applied for a passport in April and just received it in October after paying an extra N40,000 to expedite the process,” she stated. She described a lack of accountability within the NIS and a failure to address the issue.
Additional victims of the alleged extortion, such as Mr. Alarape Ogunmuyiwa and journalist Dennis Abraham, also shared their experiences of being charged extra fees and facing significant delays in the passport issuance process.
Immigration officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed the compromise of the system and disclosed that individuals who applied for passports online faced prolonged delays. To expedite their applications, some applicants resorted to paying bribes to NIS officials, enabling them to receive their passports within two weeks.
One official expressed concern about the implications of the ongoing extortion and misconduct, describing it as a significant threat to national security. He emphasized that the issue could result in individuals obtaining Nigerian citizenship documents through corrupt means, posing risks to the nation.
The official called for urgent measures to address the problem and urged passport applicants to resist any attempt to bribe officials, encouraging victims of extortion to report their experiences to higher authorities.
Dr. Adedotun Aridegbe, the Service Public Relations Officer, dismissed the allegations, stating that some applicants fabricated stories to tarnish the image of the NIS. He maintained that it was unrealistic for applicants to pay more than the official passport fees and defended the dedication of Passport Control Officers who had worked tirelessly to clear application backlogs.
Aridegbe asserted that disciplinary action would be taken against any officer found guilty of misconduct.
