The Nigerian Government has assured Diasporas that the 72 hours passport policy takes effect in June, 2021.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola announced this when he received a delegation from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, in Abuja, Nigeria.
He said the Government is committed to clearing the backlog of Passport applications and issuance latest May 31st, emphasising that the Nigerian Passport is the strongest instrument of sovereignty, nationality and citizenship.
Aregbesola explained that the Ministry introduced sweeping reforms as it concerns passport application and issuance, stressing that a regime of not more than 72 Hours Express Passport Processing is underway.
“Whoever holds a Nigerian Passport is a bonafide citizen who must be treated with dignity and respect,” he stated.
Speaking on managed migration, the Interior Minister promised to work with strategic agencies to see that migration is profitable to the migrant and to the country of stay and homeland.
The Minister also 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 the issue of historic African Diaspora whose forefathers were taken away as slaves, and who had done their DNA which identified them as Nigerians and who are requesting Nigerian citizenship , the Minister said the issue would be looked at holistically.
For 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 Year Validity period as first of its kind in Nigeria.
“This is cheering news for Nigerians in the Diaspora as they need not bother to renew their passport for ten years,” the elated NIDCOM Chairman said.
She added that the COVID-19 restrictions which hampered issuance of passports to Nigerians abroad affected a lot of them in different ways.
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