President Muhammadu Buhari has granted the Nigerian Security Printing & Minting Company (NSPMC) the monopoly for the production and personalization of all Nigerian E-passports and related documentation.
Buhari gave the directive today.
Popularly known as The Mint, the company was established in 1963 with the objective of producing the nation’s currency notes and coins for the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as security documents for Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, banks and other blue chip companies.
With the new directive from the President, all existing memoranda of understanding and contracts on printing by other institutions/ companies will not be renewed.
The Mint is the largest banknote and security documents specialist printing company in West Africa. However, its performance was rapidly dwindling in terms of both currency production and security documents prior to 2014.
Under the chairmanship of the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, new targets were set, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of The Mint, Mr Abbas Umar Masanawa recounts some of the achievements to include: zero importation of currency from 2014 to date, with attendant benefits of conservation of foreign reserve, revenue and employment generation, as well as safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty.
Mr Masanawa counts the blessings further: “The Mint has returned to profitability. From a moribund organisation with heavy losses, the company grew from a loss position of N14. 6 million in 2014 to a profit of N14. 3 billion in 2018. Turnover also grew from N17.8 billion in 2014 to N61. 4 billion in 2018.
“Other achievements include enhanced production capacity, revenue diversification, reduced cost of production, institutionalisation of corporate governance, improved staff welfare and industrial harmony, among others.”
The Managing Direction pledged that The Mint would justify the renewed confidence reposed in it by the President, “as we are moving to the Next Level, and poised to boost national security and integrity, we will conserve scarce foreign exchange, improve revenue generation, create job opportunities, and boost acquisition/transfer of technology.”
Tag: passport
-
Buhari grants passport printing monopoly to NSPMC
-
Medical trip: Court orders release of ex-gov Shema’s passport
Justice Hadiza Shagari of the Federal High Court Katsina State, on Thursday ordered the immediate release of International Passport of the former governor of Katsina, Ibrahim Shema, to enable him travel for medical treatment abroad.
Shagari gave the order while ruling in the application filed by Shema.
She also ordered Shema to forward his fresh medical report to the court before the passport released to him.
The judge equally ordered him to return the passport to the court on Sept. 2.
Shema was arraigned by the EFCC on 26-count charge bordering on money laundering of N5.7 billion SURE-P funds during his tenure.
The judge adjourned the case to Oct. 8, 2019, for continuation of hearing.
-
Passport Issuance: Immigration CG decries bribery, corruption amongst officials
The Comptroller General (CG), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, on Friday raised the alarm that some officers are still collecting bribes on passport issuance.
Babandede, who disclosed this in Abuja during the official decoration of 48 senior officers promoted to the rank of Comptrollers of Immigration, warned officers to shun corrupt practices, adding that anyone caught in the act would be sanctioned.
He warned against officers using their uniforms and arms to molest anybody.
Babandede congratulated the promoted officers and urged them to exhibit a high sense of professionalism and commitment to duty in line with the mandate of the service, especially in furtherance of the Federal Government’s policy on ease of doing business.
The immigration boss, who expressed sadness over the development, said: “I will not promote an officer who has been found collecting bribe? It is not a right for everybody to be promoted.
“We still have challenges. Officers are still taking bribes on passport issuance. If an officer collects money to get a job for someone, we will dismiss the officer.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has always insisted that we must do our work very well and shun corruption. We must respect human rights. Do not use the uniforms and guns given to you by the government to molest anybody.
“The elevation of all of you to the rank of Comptroller of Immigration Service is a mark of your dedication and loyalty to the service. It equally comes with a lot of responsibility. Therefore, I want to task you to redouble your efforts to ensure that the statutory responsibilities of the service are achieved and geared towards securing Nigeria against the current myriad of security challenges. We are putting everything in place to ensure that the service makes a very positive impact on the security matrix of the country as well as providing enabling environment for trade and tourism”.
On the ongoing technology building, Babandede said: “Julius Berger has done well for the technology building. When completed next year June, we shall effectively monitor mobility of our borders. Our responsibility is to ensure that Nigeria is safer.”
3,413 senior officers of the service between the ranks of Comptroller and Senior Inspector of Immigration were promoted.
-
Musings on delayed passports at the Canadian High Commission – Ehi Braimah
By Ehi Braimah
It’s over eight weeks now that my international passport was submitted for the renewal of my Canadian travel visa.
My wife and daughter also submitted their passports with mine on Friday March 1, 2019 to renew their visas — my daughter applied for a student visa. This will not be the first time we are applying to renew our visas but this is the first time we have waited this long! In the past, our passports were returned after two or three weeks. Having travelled to Canada on different occasions, I assumed the process would be faster but I was wrong.
There are other visas on our passports with a travel history and records that have never been compromised. It is now evident that the visa protocols have changed. On the Canadian High Commission website, available information indicates that non-immigrant visa applications take about six to eight weeks for the process to be completed. I’d like to be corrected if I’m wrong.
I concede that granting visas is highly discretionary but the process of holding down applicants’ passports for over two months should be urgently reviewed by the Canadian High Commission. I’m still wondering why the visa process cannot be smarter and more efficient by using a mapping model that would create different clusters by seeding all the visa applications received.
These clusters — supported with an efficient time management system that is scalable and adequate manpower — may include frequent travelers, business owners, public and private sector professionals, journalists, students, medical tourists, holiday makers, first time applicants, and so on.
I’m aware that hundreds of applications that may be overwhelming are received daily at the Visa Centre in Lekki in Lagos for onward transmission to the Canadian High Commission but this does not in any way suggest that every Nigerian applicant is in a hurry to seek ‘greener pastures’ in any of the 10 Provinces in Canada and never to return. I don’t think so. Even applicants who intend to emigrate know there are no short cuts.
So what do you do when your passport is not available when you need it for other trips? You just wait and expect that, very soon, you will receive a message from the agency processing the applications. On April 2, 2019, 15 members of the Rotary Club of Lagos – our Club was chartered on May 30, 1961 making me the 58th President — and friends of Rotary traveled to Kigali, Rwanda for a Friendship Exchange programme for four days. As the current President of the Club, it was my responsibility to lead the delegation. How could I travel without my passport? “Oh, don’t worry, your passport will be out before we travel,” Ayo Banjo, a Past President of our Club and facilitator of the trip, assured me.
Gbenga Ismail, Chair of Welfare Committee, said to me: “Mr President, this trip will be incomplete without you oo; I beg, make dem release your passport jo!” Sensing that I will not be able to travel with them, it was the same story of disappointment from members of our Club who had booked their seats on the Rwand Air flight. I had also paid for my return ticket because I was hopeful my case would be heard.
About one week before the trip, I emailed the Canadian High Commission to state my case and requested for a fast track to enable me make the trip. I provided relevant supporting documents but it was an auto-generated computer response that I received. Then I said to myself, “Na wah; this trip don enter one chance!” My wife was unhappy that I missed the opportunity to lead the delegation to Rwanda and see things for myself because it would have been my first trip to President Paul Kagame’s country – a globally acknowledged miracle worker and transformational leader who has taken Rwanda out of the ruins of the 1994 genocide. He did this by creating a brand new culture of engagement, transparency, mutual respect, and development of infrastructure. President Kagame has given the
Rwandese a new economic order and hope for a better future.If our trip was to a West African country, an ECOWAS passport would have been helpful. I continued to track our visa application to know the status. After eight weeks, the feedback was still negative. The option of applying online is available but it appears there’s not much difference and I was very confident our passports would be released after six weeks! For some inexplicable reasons, visa applications to Canada, as I found out, are treated in Accra, Nairobi and London. Why is this so? Is it that our people cannot be trusted or is it another way of asking us to build a better Brand Nigeria? Yes, I agree we have a lot of work to do in this regard because successful brands all over the world are brands that can be trusted. But can we really blame the Canadians for the present arrangement where consular services have been outsourced?
So like troops with their General, my fellow Rotarians traveled to Rwanda without me and our host Club, the Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga, turned out to be the perfect host. After flying for about four and a half hours, members of the Rotary Club of Lagos were received in Kigali – which, by the way, is becoming a tourist and business destination — with first class hospitality by members of the Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga and Ambassador Adam Shuaib, the Nigerian Ambassador to Rwanda who is also an active member of the only English speaking Rotary Club in Kigali chartered 19 years ago. The hospitality of the Rwandese was palpable – they were friendly, cordial and jovial all the way, according to our members.
The Rotary Friendship Exchange programme is an international exchange programme for Rotarians and friends that allow participants to take turns in hosting one another in their homes and clubs. Rotary International says Friendship exchanges should be organised around at least one of three themes: culture, service and vocation. Participants may travel as individuals, couples, families or groups and may be Rotarians or not. Some of the benefits of the Friendship Exchange include the opportunity to broaden international understanding, explore profession or job in a different context, build enduring friendships, establish a foundation for peace and service; gain opportunities for active project involvement and support; learn about a region’s people, food, languages, customs and history, and finding partners for grants.
Rotarians are global citizens and anywhere you find another Rotarian with the Rotary pin, you feel very much at home in the same way Rotarians can visit any club and participate at their meetings usually followed by the exchange of name cards and club memorabilia. I had the chance to interact with the Rotary family in Aswan, Egypt during District 2451 Conference from March 3 – 6, 2016 and the Rotary Club of Bradford in the United Kingdom, also in 2016. You can then imagine my experience when I attended a meeting of the Rotary Club of Nairobi, in Nairobi, Kenya two years ago; the Club was chartered in 1930 – 89 years ago!
The annual Rotary International convention – this year, we are heading to Hamburg, Germany from June 1 – 5 – also presents another opportunity for Rotarians around the world to make new friends and forge remarkable partnerships
between clubs.I attended the last two international conventions in Atlanta, USA in 2017 and Toronto, Canada last year. These global events enhance the value chain of the host country in different areas. In order to apply for a Schengen visa to enable me travel to Hamburg, Germany, I would need my passport because time is running out. Several meetings and side events have been arranged in advance with the Rotary Club of Vechta in Germany in view of the collaboration between the Club and the Rotary Club of Lagos.
As we continue to await the release of our passports, my return ticket to Rwanda is valid until the end of May, 2019. I plan to attend the African Public Relations Association (APRA) conference holding in Kigali, Rwanda from May 13 – 16, 2019. Hopefully, our passports would have been released by then.
Braimah is a public relations and marketing strategist based in Lagos. -
Immigration lied against me – Dokpesi
The controversy surrounding the detention of High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi by the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, when he returned from a medical trip to Dubai has taken a new dramatic turn with Chief Dokpesi accusing the NIS of deliberately lying against him.
He is also consulting a team of lawyers led by Chief Kanu Aganbi to take up the matter in court to enforce his right.
Recall that NIS had reacted to the negative publicity generated by its arrest of Chief Dokpesi, who has had to undergo several surgeries in Dubai, accusing him of sneaking in and out of the country.
Providing his passport which showed evidence of NIS exit and entry stamps and Emirates Airline tickets, Chief Dokpesi expresses shock that it is either the Immigration service into which billions of Naira has been pumped to modernize it does not keep records or it is blatantly lying against him on the prompting of the powers that be.
Chief Dokpesi who secured a court order to release his passport to enable him travel when cancer cells were discovered in his blood cells last November presented page eight of his passport where NIS exit stamps in November and March; and re-entry stamps, were clearly shown.
The Daar Communication chairman who was summoned for questioning at the offices of the NIS on 27th March also expressed surprise that the officers who interacted with him were asking “very funny questions.” According to him the officer wanted to know who he met with in his first and second trips and why he had two valid Nigerian passports when the first one had not expired even though the officer is aware that his first passport was full and a new one was reissued from the comptroller general’s office. (See full interview)
-
No going back on date to sync NIN with passport – FG
The Federal Government says there is no going back on the April 29 date for the integration of the National Identity Number (NIN) with the new passport.
The Comptroller-General, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, made this known when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Engr. Aliyu Aziz.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NIS had postponed the issuance of the new passport from March 4 to April 29.
The C-G said that the postponement was to enable the service integrate the new passport with the NIN.
Babandede explained that the postponement was to ensure that every Nigerian whether resident in the country or abroad, must have NIN before getting the new 10 year improved e-passport.
The C-G explained further that NIN was very compulsory to every Nigerian whether resident in the country or abroad.
“The Job of NIS cannot be complete without working with NIMC.
“The directive from President Muhammadu Buhari is clear that every person in our territory must have one identity.
“That identity should not conflict with other identity agencies since NIMC is the custodian of the identity of citizens.”
Babandede, however, noted that NIS had shown commitment to implement the President’s directive.
He said that with the collaborative efforts between the two agencies, there would be no cases of multiple identity.
“If we work under one ecosystem, this is achievable.
‘’Harmonisation of the passport with NIN is not only for security issues but is also a social and developmental issue.
The immigration boss said that a test run had been carried out with one thousand samples of biometric identity.
“These biometrics were matched with NIN with that of passport and the success recorded is 89.4 per cent.”
The Director-General of the commission, Aliyu Aziz, assured Nigerians that the procedure for enrolment of NIN was easy, urging them to utilise the opportunity.
He said that the collaboration between the commission and NIS would be enhanced.
-
Nigeria Immigration to commence issuance of new passports in March
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it will commence issuance of new passport in the Federal Capital Territory from March 4.
This was disclosed by NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday James in Abuja, on Monday.
It will be recalled that the new e-passport was officially launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, Jan. 16.
According to James, the existing passport booklet will run concurrently with the new enhanced passport booklet until the former expires.
Other scheduled dates James said included Ikoyi in Lagos; March 25, Kano April 1; Alausa, Lagos April 8;
London, United Kingdom April 15.He said the phase two multiple roll out in New York, Washington, Atlanta, USA would follow immediately after London on April 22 while other locations, local and abroad, would follow in sequence from April 29.
The PRO further said that the passport reforms which included introduction of new enhanced passport booklet and passport with ten year validity had various category of passports and approved fees.
He said that the cost of 32-page five year standard passport stood at N25,000, 64-page five year standard passport at N 35,000, Sixty four page 10 year standard passport at N70,000 and 32-page five year official passport at N15,000.
According to James, the new passport has enormous advantages which comprised passport with ten year validity, self-tracking of application and express centers for urgent application.
Other advantages he said included weather friendliness, compliance with latest ICAO standard, polycarbonate technology that reduced incidence of damage as well saves Nigerians in the Diaspora time of frequent visits to Nigerian Embassies.
“We urge Nigerians to take advantage of the reforms, avoid patronising third party or touts and utilise the online platforms provided by the service for their passport application,” he said.
NAN
-
NIS to commence issuance of Nigerian passport with 10-year in December
Mr Mohammed Babandede, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has said that the issuance of Nigerian Passport with 10 years validity will commence in December, 2018.
Babandede made the disclosure when he visited Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state on Monday in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the immigration boss and some senior officers were in Ibadan for the first International Conference on Border In-Transition at the University of Ibadan.
He explained that the new passport would have features that could stand the test of time, adding that it would run concurrently with the old ones.
“We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the new passport with 10 years validity.
“We have also repositioned and improved on our services as directed by the president,” he said.
Babandede said NIS had also improved accessibility to visa through the introduction of Visa-on-Arrival for immigrants whose country was without an embassy.
“We have initiated the centralization of Temporary Work Permit for immigrants who are in the country for a temporary assignment as well as made it easy for women to do change of name across the states.
“We have also introduced forward-front-border patrol to curtail activities of smugglers and criminals within the border areas.
“We will continue to ensure adequate security of the border and country at large,” he said.
He said that the president had directed that NIS officers should patronize the bushes unlike the street patrol system which operated before his administration.
In his response, Ajimobi charged NIS to ensure regular monitoring of the nation’s borders for the sustenance of peace in the country.
Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, admonished the NIS boss to initiate policies towards checking illegal immigrants into the country.
He urged them to improve on border policing and ensure recruitment of credible people into the service -
Sacked DSS DG, Lawal Daura released from custody, passport seized
The embattled former Director General of Department of State Services (DSS) Lawal Daura have been released with his international passport seized.
Recall that the acting President, Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday ordered the immediate sack of the top spy chief after ordering the deployment of masked DSS operatives to lay siege to the National Assembly.
Intelligence report has it that Daura was released on Wednesday evening from a guest house run by the DSS in Gwarimpa area of Abuja where he had been placed on house arrest since dismissal on Tuesday.
The presidency said the deployment of the DSS officials to the National Assembly was unauthorised.
The presence of masked DSS agents who prevented federal lawmakers and staff members from entering the parliament drew nationwide outrage on Tuesday morning. By afternoon, the acting president, apparently incensed by the images of the ensued fracas being beamed across the world, ordered Daura’s instant dismissal from service.
He was also asked to be remanded in custody, following allegations he might have committed some of the gravest heist and betrayal in Nigeria’s national security history.
He was initially reportedly taken to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad facility in Guzape neighbourhood, Abuja, where he spent time answering questions for his highly controversial tenure at the secret police.
Later on, he was moved to one of the numerous guests houses run by DSS around the Federal Capital Territory. Specifically, he was detained at a building in Gwarinpa, a massive residential community filling the northwestern corridor of the capital, security sources informed of the matter said.
“He was given his phones and released to go,” a source said. “But his international passport was taken from him.”
It was not immediately clear where Daura is currently putting up, but security sources said he would not be able to go under the radar given the intensity of surveillance already placed on him.
His two known telephone lines were still switched as at the moment this story was ready for publication. The DSS has not had a spokesperson since September 2015, shortly after Mr Daura took over, despite demands by media advocates.
The police did not return requests for comments about when Daura was handed over to the DSS and other details surrounding his interrogation.
-
Nigerians to pay more as FG approves 10-year validity period for passports
The Federal Government has approved a 10-year validity period for Nigerian passports.
This followed a presidential approval to change the face of the e-passport 10 years after it was introduced in the country.
Currently, the passports have a five-year validity period.
The Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede, who said this in a report monitored on Channels Tv on Thursday, added that the extended validity period would reduce the stress Nigerians went through every five years to renew their passports.
“One of the reforms he (President Buhari) has approved is that we would improve the quality, security of our passport booklets.
“Ten years after the enrolment of the e-passport system, we need to improve the security features. You can’t keep documents for 10 years without seeing decreased values in them, so we are improving the security features which would raise the standards of the passports,” the CG explained.
He added that the President also approved improved security features for the documents.
Babandede, however, disclosed that the new passports would cost more, but he did not reveal the new prices for the various categories of the passports.
He said, “President Buhari has equally approved 10-year validity for passports which is great news. When the report comes, passports will be valid for 10 years which is great news especially for adults from the age of 18 and above.”
“Though people will pay more, if they can pay more and get the booklets quickly, it’s good with improved security for 10 years validity. They would pay more but the document would be available, that’s good,” Babandede said.