NIS Denies Increasing E-Passport Amount
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has denied increasing the amount used in purchasing the country’s newly launched E-passport.
The denial was contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, by the agency’s spokesperson, Emeka Obua, a copy obtained by NAN.
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He said there was no hike in fees for obtaining e-passports, adding that the agency was still charging same rate for e-passports in and outside the country.
According to him, the price for obtaining a Nigerian passport and other immigration services were the same within and outside the country. He, however, noted that those obtaining these services outside the country may experience a slight difference because they were charged according to the foreign currency obtained in the country they resided.
“The rate for obtaining an e-passport is equivalent to the foreign rate obtained in the country where the person resides. It is the exchange rate that determines how the passport costs. The rate for obtaining our services is the same everywhere, but anyone outside the country will be charged according to the hard currency obtained there” he said.
The agency spokesman further revealed that about 24 officers were recently sent to various embassies to ease the process of obtaining all immigration services, like visa and passport, outside the country. He added that the move was to ease the difficulties experienced by Nigerians in Diaspora and foreigners in obtaining these services as the agency was yet to man its desk at some Nigerian embassies.
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Obua promised that NIS would commence implementation of issuing the new e-passport launched by President Goodluck Jonathan, and urged Nigerians to cooperate in order to ensure smooth implementation.
“The issuance of the new travel document has commenced and will be used side-by-side the existing 32-page e-passport. This new travel document which has 64 pages now cost N20, 000, but those under 18 years and those above 60 years can obtain it for N8, 750. The new passport has security features to forestall identity theft, accommodate frequent travellers, take care of low income earners and the aged, and is gender friendly” he said.
It would be recalled that on July 29, 2014, the Federal Government launched the new 64-page e-passport as part of its commitment to give seamless service delivery to Nigerians locally and internationally.
Source: Legit.ng
