Contrary to reports making the rounds that passport materials are scarce at Nigeria Immigration Service offices across the country, there are materials in the Ikoyi Passport Office, Lagos.
Applicants can still procure E-passports of all sizes at the NIS office in Ikoyi.
A visit to the Ikoyi Passport Office showed that people thronged the premises for passports because of the way the place has been restructured by the new Passport Control Officer (PCO) A.G. Garo, who attends to applicants personally.
An applicant, Rose (other names withheld), who is going on a medical trip to India, said: “I was surprised when I arrived at Ikoyi Passport Office and I met everywhere so organized. I met an Immigration officer who I told that I needed to see the passport controller and he took me straight to him. I was impressed at the way the controller welcomed me. When I told him my predicament, he told me that it was not a problem, as he would start the process of my passport immediately, since I was to embark on a medical trip. Lo and behold, he provided me with my passport within a few days. I had heard many unprintable things about passport offices, but with what I witnessed at Ikoyi Passport Office, I have changed my perspective.
“I have an ailment that requires attention in India and my doctor warned against contracting COVID-19 and advised that I must adhere strictly to COVID-19 protocols. One of my greatest fear, when I was coming here, was the issue of social distancing, but I was surprised that in Ikoyi Passport Office everybody observes social distancing and other COVID-19 protocols. I was impressed with what I saw at the office.”
Other applicants who spoke to our reporter said the Ikoyi Passport Office was a unique office worthy of emulation.
An Immigration officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, as he was not supposed to speak to the press, said: “Nobody is perfect, but give it to our new controller, he is a professional and perfectionist. He has spoilt business for touts and some unscrupulous officers conniving with them. The rumor making the rounds is that there are no materials for passports, but we have them in stock. Our Oga is loved by us but hated by a few unscrupulous ones.
“He attends to applicants personally and does not discriminate. He does not allow press interviews; I would have taken you to him. Even the public relations officer cannot talk (to newsmen), but I am telling you the truth. Our controller has even fished about for officers that had been bringing a bad name to the service and sanctioned them. He has reshuffled, removed those from these offices, and posted them to other offices. With what he has done, he has spoilt ‘business’ and destroyed ‘industries’ for unscrupulous officers.”
A tour around the offices showed complete compliance with COVID-19 protocols, as there was social distancing, while everybody wore facemasks. There were hand-wash points and hand sanitizers around the office. By 8.30 am last Thursday, the PCO was on hand to give a lecture to his subordinates, after which he spoke with applicants, telling them what to do and how to do it to make it easy for them to procure their passports.
Finally, the man warned against doing business with touts and paying above the stipulated prices for passports of different sizes. He further advised that, if anyone had complaints or issues, he or she should come to his office.
