Editorial
Immigration fraud with Nigerian passports
There was a backlog of slightly more than the expected two hundred thousand, the interior minister told Nigerians.
It would have been very plausible had the most recent attempt to cleanse the system succeeded when earlier ones made by our previous governments had failed and the system had reverted to its previous state.
Since the chances of the site running are as remote as those impassioned by the Nigerians who require passports and are required to pay more than necessary, the online alternative is purposefully designed to fail.
Because of their attempts to defraud the people or their use of towels, immigration officers have amassed outrageous fortune.
If passports are purchased from them at a hefty price, it is more profitable for them. Immigration officials frequently have pre-planned responses for potential delays. These responses can range from the inability to produce password booklets locally to the CBN not making an exchange available against the background of the office in obtaining a national passport, which is a straightforward procedure to verify the national identification number before issuance.
Whatever efforts are currently being made, it is obvious that they are a fire brigade strategy that only temporarily resolves the problem. The need for a solution to do rid of all man-made impediments to the passport application process grows.
Because the immigration office views passport applications as a cash cow to be milked dry and the entire process reeks of corruption, it is imperative to continuously monitor the process. If not, the truth will compel those in charge to continue avoiding responsibility.