The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has praised Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, for the recent advancements in the passport application and collection processes aimed at enhancing efficiency for Nigerians living abroad.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, expressed the excitement of Nigerians in the Diaspora regarding these improvements, stating that they have long awaited such changes to facilitate access to passport services.
She emphasized that the reforms are a significant relief for citizens globally and underscored NiDCOM’s commitment to supporting these changes through advocacy and outreach efforts.
“We are prepared to collaborate fully with the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure that Nigerians in the Diaspora are well-informed about these developments,” Dabiri-Erewa noted.
In response, Minister Tunji-Ojo highlighted the Ministry’s dedication to fostering a structured partnership with NiDCOM and the Nigeria Immigration Service through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
He stressed the importance of effective communication and engagement with Nigerians abroad to ensure the success of the new reforms.
He stated that one of the key innovations is the introduction of contactless biometrics, which offers several advantages, including the elimination of lengthy travel, savings on hotel costs, and reduction in work absenteeism.
The minister added that the contactless service will be available starting November 1 in Canada, November 15 in the US, and December 1 in other countries, specifically for renewals and for individuals aged 18 and above.
Meanwhile, Dr. Muhammad Shehu Bello, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission) has praised President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive to reduce the convoy sizes for ministers and chief executives as a positive step towards lowering the high cost of governance in Nigeria.
In a statement released over the weekend, Dr. Bello urged state governments to adopt similar measures to further enhance fiscal responsibility across the country.
According to Dr. Bello, the high cost of governance has had wide-reaching negative impacts, including reduced investments, elevated unemployment, and rising insecurity.
