On Tuesday the Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it has started accepting applications for new passports in the state.
Safiya Mohammed, command’s comptroller, announced this in Ibadan, the state capital, at a send-off for Usman Babangida, the outgoing comptroller, NAN reports.
Mohammed said the command has started receiving new applications, in line with a directive by the NIS’ Comptroller-General, Muhammad Babandede.
“The agency had suspended new applications for passports to clear the backlog of passport applications that were received.
“One of the priorities of the CG is the processing and prompt delivery of passports to applicants. He told me to see that the backlog is cleared.
“Also, the command over the weekend worked overnight, and we were able to produce over 3,000 passports out of the backlog.
“This is to give room for new applicants to be attended to. New applications started at 12 midnight on Tuesday,” she said.
She further thanked the outgoing comptroller for the precedents he set in the command, describing him as a dedicated and hardworking man.
Recall that the NIS had suspended fresh passport applications to clear a backlog of applications received before May 17.
