Nigeria Immigration Service, Kwara State Command, said it had cleared all uncollected international passports at its disposal in the state.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the State Comptroller of Immigration, Comptroller Aminu Shamsuddin, confirmed the collection of the passports in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Thursday.
Shamsuddin stated that some applicants found it difficult to create time to collect their passports when it’s ready, especially when they are not in dire need of it.
He noted that the command had to go beyond sending text messages to applicants by embarking on some sensitization on radio and television stations.
“We realised that Nigerians live a busy lifestyle, thereby finding it difficult to create extra time for other things like the international passport, especially when they are not traveling out of the country.
“Even those that applied for a passport find it difficult to collect it when it’s ready, except they are traveling out of the country in some days’ time.
“We decided to sensitise the public and enlighten them on the importance of international passport both within and outside the country.
“We also want people to know that the passport should be part of everybody’s credentials, a means of identification anywhere, and important documents that should be guided well,” he said.
The Comptroller declared that there would be more sensitization programme and awareness with the assistance of the media, who could help enlighten the public on the need for possession of international passport.
“We will also organise a sensitisation walk, in which NYSC Corps members, transporters, market men and women, as well as students, will be enlightened and engaged on the need for owning a passport,” he said.
