In a rare response to the plight of Nigerians, the House of Representatives on Tuesday began moves to stop the fraud perpetrated by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) against helpless Nigerians. There is now a motion in the green chamber aimed at compelling an insensitive NIS to reverse the validity period of the Nigerian Passport to 10 years, as was the case before the introduction of the present e-Passport regime.
Currently, the e-passport expires after a period of five years, with no option of renewal.
Now the House remembered that in the pre-e-Passport times, the Nigerian passport had a initial validity of five years but could be renewed for another five years. Lawmakers concluded that the passport had a “life span of 10 years” as against the e-Passport.
Hon. Samson Olugbemi, had moved a motion on the matter. He drew the House’s attention to the “harrowing” experiences of Nigerians who get caught up abroad due to the difficulties posed by the current validity period of the e-passport.
The resolution noted that the House failed to see any further value in the validity period of five years “other than the selfish intentions of the Nigerian Immigration Service to increase its internally generated revenue profile and by extension, increase the funds it is permitted to offset its operational costs.”
The motion partly read, “The House recalls that before the introduction of the e-Passport, the Nigerian Passport had a five-year validly period, subject to re-validation for another five years only; indicating that Nigeria’s passport had a lifespan of 10 years.
“The House also recalls that the process of renewal of the old passport was very simple and efficient, as it required mere stamping by an authorised immigration official, indicating a new expiration date.
“Convinced that the 10-year lifespan sits very well with international best practices because countries issue travelling visas, which vary from two weeks to 10 years.
“Concerned that the Nigerian Immigration Service, for reason only known to it, decided to limit the validity of the new Nigerian Passport to five years without any option of renewal; therefore, instead of renewal of the passport on expiration, a new one is to be issued.
“The arbitrary change in policy is inflicting untold hardships and inconveniences to Nigerians at home and abroad.”
The House therefore asked the NIS to “initiate measures aimed at reverting to the 10-year lifespan policy for the Nigerian Passport
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