Passport crisis: FG sends printers to the offices of the Nigerian embassy

Passport crisis: FG sends printers to the offices of the Nigerian embassy in Atlanta and New York

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has approved the immediate deployment of new printers  in New  York and Atlanta, a  move aimed at  reducing the current  workload and improving service delivery  to Nigerian citizens  and "foreigners".
The move comes after several complaints  by Nigerian citizens residing in the United  States who have faced significant delays in processing their passports due to faulty or insufficient printing equipment,  said a statement signed by  Alao, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Interior on Media and  Publicity. .
According to the statement, Minister Tunji-Ojo acknowledged the importance of  a speedy resolution of the  issue, citing the urgent need to restore  the normal functioning of these key diplomatic  missions.
According to the  ministry, the new printers are ready for installation and will be operational  soon. Beyond this immediate  solution, the  minister outlined a broader strategy for a more sustainable solution. This includes the activation of a new  passport personalization center in Abuja, which is expected to begin operations in the coming  weeks.
This center will play a crucial role in  improving the efficiency of passport production across the country.  The minister also hinted at the expansion of the  already established contactless passport application system, which is currently available in Canada, to more countries  around the world. This long-term initiative aims to streamline the passport application process, making it easier and faster for Nigerians to apply for and  obtain their passports, both  in the country and  abroad. Tunji-Ojo also  assured the public that the Ministry of Interior, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains committed to  the modernization and  improvement of immigration services in the  country. The ministry has already  implemented end-to-end automation  of passport applications, which is expected to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies and  improve user  experience.
In addition, the contactless application system, initially launched in Canada, is now  expected to  be further  expanded as part of the ongoing reform  efforts.
Background: Diaspora  protests delays
The Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN),  together with partner organizations,  have condemned the  inefficiency plaguing Nigeria's passport services in the United  States.
In a statement signed by  the OAN  President, Olutomi Aregbesola, the group expressed disappointment over the  prolonged inaction of the Ministry of  Interior on a petition  filed over a year ago, which highlighted the urgent need for passport printers in New York and  Atlanta. According to the OAN, the lack of functional printers has caused significant  difficulties, leaving many Nigerians unable to renew their passports. This has disrupted travel plans for emergencies,  work and family  commitments. The statement revealed that  although two printers are stationed at the Nigerian  embassy in Washington,  DC, one  of them remains unused, a decision  that was influenced by the  former Minister of  Interior's concerns about creating discontent  in diplomatic  missions. The OAN criticized the reasoning as illogical and indicative of poor strategic and informed decision-making.  It insisted that the New York  consulate, which serves the largest population of Nigerians in the  United States, has been significantly neglected.

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