Against the backdrop of public outcry about poor service delivery in some Passport Offices and the quest to deepen passport reforms, the acting Comptroller General of Immigration (Ag.CGI), Isah Jere Idris, has uncovered how touts and some Immigration personnel swindle unsuspecting Nigerians seeking to acquire international passports.
The discovery was made during a recent unscheduled visit to the Alausa and Ikoyi Passport Offices in Lagos, as part of sting operations to assess the quality of service delivery to the members of the public at the Centres.
The Assistant Comptroller of Immigration Service and Public Relations Officer, Amos Okpu, in a statement, said the acting Comptroller General arrived at the Alausa Passport Office Ikeja, at about 1100 hours, and presented himself as a potential passport applicant.
“He moved around the premises unnoticed and was even attended to by some personnel. He also met with some touts within and around the premises who made entreaties to assist him to procure a passport.
“Both the touts and some of the person who offered to assist him gave exorbitant fees far beyond the official rates. He played along with them and, indeed, some affirmed their readiness to assist him to procure the passport within a reasonable time, provided he met their charges,”
said Okpu.
Determined to have a good understanding of the extent of touting in the area, the acting CGI opted to follow one of the touts to her business centre located not far away from the office.
“While there, the tout produced all manner of forms and requested the acting CGI to complete the same, so that the process could begin. He completed some and was, thereafter, asked to transfer the sum for the charges given him to an account number supplied by the tout if he could not make a cash payment,” Okpu further stated.
Satisfied with his findings at the Alausa Office, he proceeded to the Ikoyi Passport Centre and the same experience played out. Afterward, he left the premises unnoticed and proceeded to the Office of the Lagos State Command Comptroller on Alagbon Close, Ikoyi.
Speaking after the operation, the acting CGI noted that the visit was very insightful.
“It has enabled me to assess the quality of service delivery at the Centres, especially against the backdrop of some public complaints about poor service delivery in some passport office locations.”
He promised to use the experience to deepen reforms very urgently and said:
“I have seen some gaps that must be quickly addressed. I think that the passport appointment system we are about to introduce will take care of some of the gaps, while a huge emphasis on consequence management shall be vigorously pursued.”
