The Lagos State government is seeking the support of the Nigeria’s Immigration Service towards successful outing of this year’s Umrah (lesser hajj) exercises in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The State through the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, (LSMPWB) wanted a seamless processing and issuance of the enhanced passport for the State’s intending pilgrims participating in the 2023 Hajj and Umrah exercise.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Lolade Aina, who led the Board Secretary, Mr. Saheed Onipede and others on a courtesy visit, told the Passport Control Officer that the visit was to familiarise and seek assistance on the speedy processing and issuance of E-Passports to intending pilgrims so as to guarantee their performance of the holy pilgrimage in Makkah and Madinah.
According to her, “many of the intending pilgrims have made payment for the spiritual exercises coming up between April and June but are yet to get their International Passports issued and without the passport, the intending pilgrims would not be able to actualise their dream.”
Aina, therefore, pleaded with the Immigration Service to assist the Board towards ensuring that all the affected persons are given necessary consideration so that the enhanced passports are issued on time in order to meet the deadline for visa procurement set by the Saudi Arabian Embassy.
In her response, Passport Control Officer, Nigeria Immigration Service, Alausa Passport Office, Assistant Comptroller, Mrs. Gladys Chukwuedo appreciated the Permanent Secretary and her team for the visit, saying that her office is ready to support the Board in its quest to ensure that the operation is made easy for the intending pilgrims.
She explained the procedure involved in obtaining the enhanced passport, adding that every applicant for the E-passports must ensure that the name they filled in the immigration online portal must be the same as the information in the NIN registration, adding that once there is any disparity, such application would be rejected.
Olusola Akintonde
