The discuss around Nigerian Passport and the various categories of visas are issues that calls for serious debate and discuss among stakeholders.
For over two years the agency responsible for the administration and Issuance of Passport and Visas,the Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS)was denied ownership of the process and administration by the supervising Ministry of Interior.
The Nigerian citizens have not gotten fair treatment with respect to acquisition of fresh passport to renewal of same amidst increased fees in the midst of economic downturn
Yes, a vulgar may say passport is not meant for a poor person but who says it is only for the rich or privileged?
Passport is the highest identity document apart from the National Identity Card. Sometimes, passport serves both for the purpose of identifying citizens globally. It cannot be different in Nigeria. Nobody who has good intention should be deprived of having one,but today as it is,from the officials to the supervising Ministry ,Nigerians are being fleeced of hard earn money to get what they are legitimately entitled to for being a citizen.
No Nigerian should be denied of having a passport but today extortion in various dimensions and arbitrary increase in fees that does not reflect a people friendly and citizen centred system is the order of the day.
The pursuit of the administration and facilitation of Passport and Visas is being handled as a private business more than means of Diplomatic and global integration by the Ministry of Interior
It is high time, the agency Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS) is allowed to administer and process passport and visas from a professional point of view in line with the mandate setting up the agency for the purpose of Control and Management of human mobility into and out of the country.
World over the passport reflects a national interest and it attracts a welcome to its citizens if well managed.
It places the country on admissable or inadmissible position, if otherwise abused or wrongly administered .
The global rating of the passport has nothing to do with Colour,Texture or Production,but more on how secured,tamper proof,accessible, digitally relevant and compliant, high standard in process and production, Citizens integrity,global acceptance are yardsticks and guidelines on which a national passport is rated by the Global Passport Index, the body responsible for rating passports globally.
Visas are issued in view of reciprocity. If your visas are difficult to access,others will reciprocate same to your citizens. If the fees you charge for issuance of a visa is high,the same is replicated on your citizens. If you deny others visa,your citizens experience same.If you are flexible,you experience same. That does not mean security should be compromised ,but what leads to security compromise is more official centred and system
As an institution, if the system is working perfectly from application,process to issuance,compromise may be curtailed or reduced to minimum.But when it is run like business with the agency saddled with the responsibility denied ownership of the process and monitoring,as it is currently obtained in Nigeria where the Ministry of Interior determines fees to be charged,how the process and product should be issued void input from the agency.
This calls for review and the Ministry should concentrate on policy formulation,while the agency administers, supervises,enforces and monitor both the product and users of the facility for the purpose for which they were issued.
Passport and Visas are very sensitive Diplomatic centred documents that must be carefully treated and handled by a professional agency not a private company,making decisions difficult for the appropriate agency concern.
James Sunday, is the CEO of Hallvive Media and Communications Limited Abuja, Nigeria
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