The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, has revealed that the newly introduced e-Passport is valid and acceptable for entrance into any country of choice.
This was disclosed in a statement by NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday James in Abuja on Thursday. This reassurance is coming after a recent problem encountered as regards the e-Passport with United Arab Emirates (UAE) authority. James stated that the issue has been resolved and thanked the Ambassadors of Nigeria and UAE for resolving the issue.
He also recommended that Nigerians get their National Identity Number (NIN) and make certain that the information tallies with the one on their passports. Stressing on that, he said
“the uniformity of the NIN information and that of the 10-year validity passport is to ensure one identity which is a major feature of the new enhanced e-Passport”.
Speaking on the availability of the new passport, he disclosed that the Passport was available in the service headquarters, Abuja and Ikoyi, pending release in other centres. The issuance of the former and new passports will run simultaneously.
The new e-Passport was first announced in 2018 and unveiled on the 15th of January, 2019 at the State House, Abuja. It was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, by NIS Comptroller General. The e-Passport is valid for 10 years with an upgraded enhanced security. It is weather friendly as it has polycarbonate technology that leaves no room for damage.
The upgraded e-Passport, which contains 64 pages, will cost 70,000 naira to acquire. This is an improvement on the standard passport which contains 32 pages, validity period of five years and costs 25,000 to acquire. This new passport does not replace the standard passport as they would be issued simultaneously.
