It was a good start for the new Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who largely fulfilled his determination to clear the backlogs of about 204,332 Nigerian international passports within 21 days. He also came with radical reforms aimed at decentralising passport application centres with an integrated feedback mechanism, reducing human interface and reviewing all third-party agreements, if necessary, downsizing service providers as well as domesticate passport production. These moves, the minister assured, would boost efficiency and ease passport difficulties faced by applicants at home and in Diaspora.
While the minister’s thinking and approach to tackle passport procurement challenges is welcome and desirable, the story, however, remains pathetic and frustrating as the process to obtain a passport is still far from satisfactory due to old bureaucracy, inefficiency and saboteurs, who made it easy for money bags to obtain a passport seamlessly than for an ordinary Nigerian. Naturally, there is a growing concern among Nigerians over the prevailing high passport processing fees, charges, inordinate delays and outright corrupt practices which are now unbecoming.
Indeed, the novel idea by the Interior minister to clear the passport issuance backlog in three weeks is commendable, because a passport, as a means of travel, is a right to free movement guaranteed in the constitution for every citizen. However, it has largely become standard fare that applicants must not only pay extra cash to obtain a passport but go through a harrowing experience. Ever since the digital process to obtain a passport was announced, what used to be only an agonising experience has turned to a nightmare. As it were, even when an applicant has completed the process online, obtaining a passport remains a difficult experience. Under such circumstances, the stage would be set for desperation and by extension, sharp practices, which would surface to subvert the system. The minister should have this in mind.
No doubt, it is the right of Nigerians to have a passport, just as the minister rightly pointed out when he said: “The issuance of passports should not be a privilege but a right of every Nigerian. Visas are a privilege, but passports are a right and we are glad to be able to hand back the right to the people of Nigeria.”
Despite the minister’s position, the procurement of passports has become a nightmare over time as applicants suffer untold hardship in the process. Rightly or wrongly, with reference to our huge population, it is expected that the number of applicants would be in large numbers. It is also obvious that Nigerians are known for their penchant for travelling, particularly so in these times of the japa syndrome, when many people are looking for greener pastures. Yet, the process of passport procurement remains sluggish and docile.
It is important to note that the euphoria that greeted the minister’s action in clearing the passport backlogs and the erstwhile introduction of digital process in procuring a passport to ease the process and reduce human traffic in passport offices has done little or nothing to reduce applicants’ stress. If anything, conditions have worsened with insignificant evidence in the provision of better services. It is also regrettable that, compared with the seamless operations of many climes in procuring international travel passports, Nigeria has not fared well, and has indeed been stigmatized for failed programmes or reforms. In almost all instances, hardly does any programme or reform succeed after the regime that introduced it. This is shameful and should be addressed.
Therefore, if the Minister of Interior understands the pains and frustrations of applicants, he should note that his promise to alleviate the hiccups associated with the process has remained largely a mirage, as the digitalisation of passport procurement system has not changed anything. Business remains as usual at the passport processing centres. As it turned out, applicants who filled online forms are made to fill it manually under the supervision of a passport officer, who reportedly informs applicants that the online filling is self-service. In most cases, applicants have to part with hard earned cash, often several times over the price for the passport booklet volume and duration with five years validity. This is indeed sad and unacceptable.
In promising Nigerians easy and seamless procurement of international passports, the minister of Interior must seriously galvanise the immigration department and passport offices to act accordingly. This is because the idea of the government’s reform of passport issuance and renewal is not new. The passport system is being controlled by human beings and authorisation is always given from above (Oga at the top syndrome). It does appear that those benefiting from the corrupt system will continue to undermine every effort in ridding the process of corruption. Besides, the excuse of shortage of passport booklets should be investigated with a view to finding a permanent solution to the shortage.
Therefore, what should be on display is the strength and resilience of the immigration department and the minister of Interior to strengthen the system for the good of all Nigerians. The digital process should not be frustrated by corrupt practices and saboteurs. What is needed is the best approach and attitude to ensure that passport procurement is seen to be transparent and stress free. Everything should be done to ensure that applicants get the passport in good time without unduly delay and unwarranted stress. The Federal Government should not relent on proffering strategies to tackle issues at boosting efficiency and concerted efforts should be made to address staff welfare. This will go a long way to curb corruption and sharp practices in passport issuing centres across the country.
