The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has revealed that a total of 107,646 passports remain uncollected across the country.Â
Comptroller General Kemi Nandap announced that this substantial number of passports have been produced and are awaiting collection by their respective applicants.
In light of this situation, the NIS is making a fervent appeal to all individuals who have applied for passports to visit their nearest Passport Issuing Centre to retrieve their documents.
 The agency emphasized the importance of this step, noting that the accumulation of uncollected passports is a growing concern.
One of the key issues identified by the NIS is the challenge of contacting some applicants.
 Many individuals have not provided accurate or up-to-date contact information during the online application process, making it difficult for the agency to notify them that their passports are ready for collection.
Therefore, the NIS urges all applicants to ensure that they provide precise and current contact details when filling out their application forms.
In an effort to improve the rate of passport collection, the NIS has introduced new measures.
Starting immediately, all Passport Offices in Lagos will be open on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm exclusively for the purpose of passport collection.
This extension of service hours is aimed at accommodating those who may find it difficult to visit the offices during regular weekday hours due to work or other commitments.
Ms. Kemi Nandap emphasized the importance of this initiative, encouraging all individuals whose passports are ready to take advantage of the extended service hours.
She highlighted that this effort is part of the NIS’s commitment to enhancing customer service and ensuring that passports are distributed to their rightful owners as efficiently as possible.
The NIS is hopeful that these steps will lead to a significant reduction in the number of uncollected passports and improve overall satisfaction with the passport issuance process.
They remain dedicated to addressing any issues that may arise and continue to seek ways to streamline and improve their services for the benefit of all applicants.
