President Muhammadu Buhari has launched a new enhanced security Nigerian passport with 10 years validity and was immediately issued his own by the Com
President Muhammadu Buhari has launched a new enhanced security Nigerian passport with 10 years validity and was immediately issued his own by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Mr Mohammad Babandede.
Babandede explained that the new passport has enhanced features which will make it easier for security management. He said it will bring discipline to the system even as he added that the old one will work concurrently with the new one. He said the new passport with 32 pages will cost N25, 000 and $130 abroad; the 64 pages with five years expiration time will cost N35, 000 and $150 abroad while the 64 pages with 10 years validity will cost N70, 000 in Nigeria and $230 abroad.
He said: “It is weather friendly, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) compliant, it has polycarbonate technology that eliminates damage, enhanced security features and save Nigerians in the Diaspora time of frequent visit to Nigerian Embassy among others.”
The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau said Nigerians in Diaspora demanded for it, which the government has obliged them. He said the e-passport database is the most reliable source of data for criminal investigation. The minister however regretted that the passport was being produced outside the country and therefore stressed the need to domesticate production.
