Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, has strongly criticized the challenging process Nigerians face when altering passport data, especially married women.
Tunji-Ojo labelled the practice “stupid” and “inhumane,” particularly highlighting the inconvenience of requiring women to travel to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja for a simple name change in their passports.
The Minister condemned the unnecessary burden on married women, emphasizing the absurdity of compelling them to undertake extensive journeys, often from distant locations, solely for a name change.
Tunji-Ojo questioned the logic behind this requirement, challenging the disparity between the services offered at the Abuja office and those provided by various passport offices nationwide.
He expressed disbelief at the situation and advocated for a more streamlined and accessible process, urging immigration authorities to review and decentralize passport data alteration procedures.
He further emphasized the need for a fairer system that eliminates undue hardship for citizens, particularly women, seeking to update their passport information after marriage.
“There is one stupid thing I have seen and it is that a woman gets married, changes her name and then she has to come to Abuja all the way from say Kaura Namoda or Enugu just to come and effect a change of name in her passport. It is absurd.
“I can’t just figure it that you want to change just your name and you have to be in Abuja. I have asked the immigration people, is it that immigration people in Abuja have more than one head than those in the states?” He asked.
