Comptroller General of Immigration Service (CGI), Muhammad Babandede MFR has launched the enhanced e-Passport regime at the FESTAC Passport Office in Lagos.

Represented by the Zonal Coordinator of Zone ‘A” Lagos, Nigeria Immigration Service ACG Doris Braimah, the CGI stated that the migration of the Station to the enhanced e-Passport regime is part of the Service’s reform efforts at providing variety of Passport categories to Nigerians as well as improve the quality of service delivery.

With the launch, Passport applicants can now acquire the highly improved polycarbonate Passport that comes in three categories at the FESTAC Office They include; A. 32-Page, five years validity; B. 64-Page five years validity and; C. 64-Page Ten years validity Passports.

“The Enhanced e-Passporte is part of the new reforms approved by the Federal Government.

“It is an intensive review of the former e-passport booklet which has been in circulation for over 10 years and has only 5-year validity,” he said.

NAN reports that the CGIS, in his productivity drive on Sept. 30, had  deployed  Deputy Comptroller of Immigration (DCI)  Mrs. Adeola Adesokan, and some personnel from the service headquarters to overhaul the operations at FESTAC office.

The  CGIS said that Festac  Passport Office was established  in May 2001 to meet the needs of Nigerians in South West.

“We knew that the Nigeria Passport has metamorphosed from manually written booklets to Machine-Readable e-Passport and now enhanced e-Passport.

”All these have been taken into consideration in order to meet the global operational standards at each season,” Babandede said.

According to the CGIS,  the new Enhanced e-Passport has been rolled out  in  seven  locations since 2019 when President Muhammadu Buhari officially launched the  e-Passport.

“Lagos earlier had two which are  Ikoyi and Alausa  Passport offices.

“However, we are now rolling out the third one in FESTAC.

“All these were duly considered by NIS  bearing in mind of the state strategic relevance  of Lagos state.

“Lagos state  houses three borders which are sea, land and air. Lagos is a state of commerce,” the NIS boss said.

According to Babandede, the new Enhanced e-Passport has the various features such as Enhanced and self tracking of application.

“It has Polycarbonate Technology that eliminates damages and Enhanced security features and Compliance with latest International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards”.

“Ten years validity that save frequent visit to passport offices, automation of issuance process to bring about transparency, addresses touting and it is strictly online payment based.

“Notable among the requirements is the link with National Identity Number (NIN) as  it enhances the national security in terms of data management among others,” he said.

The Passport Comptroller of FESTAC, Adesokan,  thanked the CGIS for the opportunity to lead the office.

Adesokan reiterated determination to make the passport office the best in the country.

“Eligible Applicants for the Passport are advised to visit http://immigration.gov.ng to apply, pay and process any category of their choice. The application process is strictly online for those who already have their NIN”.

“All the three Passport Offices in Lagos State have now been successfully migrated to the enhanced e-Passport regime”.