Senate condemns scarcity of passport

THesenate yesterday condemned the prevailing hardship being faced by most Nigerians in securing international passports.

It also urged the Immigration Service to ensure that the undue scarcity of passport does not continue to exist.

Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki made this charge while commissioning a new passport office at the National Assembly in Abuja.

Saraki who described the prevailing situation as worrisome also thanked Muhammad Babandede, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service for the good initiative of locating a passport office at the National Assembly.

He said, ‘it was wrong and worrisome that most Nigerians who apply for international passports have to wait for a long time before the passports are delivered to them’.

“I hope that the Comptroller General of Immigration will work to see how we can improve on this so that Nigerians can have their passports as at when due,” “I have traveled to a few countries and one of the complaints we get is the issue of unavailability of passport booklets,” Saraki emphasised.

He, however, noted that the establishment of the passport office at the National Assembly would help to further strengthen the relationship between the legislative arm of government and the executive.