Tracking Nigerian Immigration Office In Osogbo

 

Ismaeel Uthman

THE Nigerian Immigration Office in Osogbo, State of Osun, has been playing host to many Nigerians seeking to obtain the country’s International Passport. Applicants, some of who are from other states in the South-West (Lagos State inclusive) have individually been applauding or knocking the NIS on its service delivery, especially, the operations of its personnel in Osogbo. OSUN DEFENDER was at the Osogbo Immigration office on Monday and Tuesday to observe the daily activities of the NIS and noted that there is remarkable improvement in the service delivery to the passport applicants and collectors.

It was noticed that there is now orderliness and due process in the call for capturing of applicants. Unlike before when some of the NIS personnel would always manipulate the process to favour their clients, the call for capturing is now ‘first come, first serve’. It was observed that elderly people (65 years and above) and children were also being given priority for capturing with the permission of other applicants. 

On Monday morning, OSUN DEFENDER noted that a senior NIS officer, said to be the Passport Control Officer (PCO) addressed the passport applicants to be orderly, patient and attentive. The officer whose voice was aided with a Public Address System, assured the applicants of quick service delivery devoid of any form of manipulation or delay.  

Maximum of six passport applicants were called in for capturing at a time. The called applicants were first made to sit on a seat provided outside the capturing room from where they are called for capturing. 

OSUN DEFENDER noted that the NIS personnel did not cluster around the capturing section unlike before (as of February this year to be specific) when they usually surround the capturing officers and compel them to call in their clients ahead of other applicants who have been seated for long. 

Ask why the sudden positive change, an Immigration Officer told the medium that the new PCO has installed a CCTV which he uses to monitor the activities of his men and call them to order when they attempt to compromise due process. “The capturing process is now fast and transparent”. 

However, OSUN DEFENDER noted that there were only two capturing cameras and computer systems in the office. The office is also small to accommodate the NIS personnel, equipment and passport applicants. There is need to get a bigger office with a minimum of five capturing cameras to fast-tract the process.

As it is for applicants waiting for capturing, so it is for those waiting to collect their passports. The six weeks timeline for the collection of passports after capturing is still much on course. OSUN DEFENDER noted that the NIS officers were no longer allowed to circumvent due process again. The process for the collection of passports is now fast and transparent. 

Beside the passport application and collection, the medium reliably gathered that the Osogbo Immigration Office does not have a server of its own, making it to rely on the Ibadan office of the NIS.

According to some of the NIS officers who spoke to OSUN DEFENDER under condition of anonymity, some of them work as late as 10pm to attend to waiting applicants whenever there is problem with the server in Ibadan. They stated that the Osogbo NIS office deserves to have its own server, considering the number of applicants that show up for capturing daily.