In a seminar organized on wednesday by Assistant Comptroller-General of Immigration, Olakunle Osisanya, officer in-charge of Nigerian Immigration Service Zone A Lagos, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) announced to officers and men of the Provost and Servicom Units of the Zone the implementation of appointment-based entry into passport offices across the country, as reported by NAN.

In the course of the seminar, the Comptroller General, Idris Jere warned officers to stop extortion and sharp practises in the processing of passports as well as maintaining a high level of discipline and professionalism in their conduct.

The CG emphasized on the relevance of the workshop was to stress the need for the appointment system to be respected by workers.

He said “Henceforth, entrance into the passport offices would be based strictly on applicant’s ability to provide evidence of appointment and collection dates.”

Jere said the integrity of the appointment system would be monitored and that any officer caught extorting would face discipline.

Jere further advised applicants for passports to apply ahead of time to by logging into the NIS portal.

“Applicants should fill the application form, make payment, choose a date, processing centre and proceed to the centre on the chosen date with the required documents”, he said.

Officials at the workshop included Lagos Command Comptroller Mani Bagiwa; Murtala Muhammed International Airport Comptroller Adeola Adesokan; Passport Control Officer Ikoyi, AO Bewaji; Lagos Command Passport Comptroller Udoh Robert, among others.