The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has made moves to actualise the issuance of passport to Nigerians within seven days after data capturing process, even as it commences twenty four hour production of Passport booklets.
The Comptroller-General of Immigration and Head of the Passport and Other Traveling Document Directorate, Sadat Hassan, made this known in a chat with PRNigeria in Abuja.
DCG Hassan said: “The Controller-General of Immigration, Caroline Wura-ola Adepoju, has not only directed the 24/7 production of booklets including on Saturday and Sunday, she also provides transportation and other incentives to ensure that we meet the demands as well as the instruction of the Hon Minister of Interior.”
She said that so far all outstanding backlog of passports have been cleared, and that only Kwara and Edo States have some backlog because of technical glitches.
The DCGI also announced that with the deployment of technology, passport production has now been centralised through which the Service can assess data of applicants, complaints, and other irregularities that can be easily tackled.
“Before now, we have what is called the e-Passport, NIS is currently moving to the production of a new enhanced one which is engraved with laser technology. Through this, we have a centralised platform to work with since the National Identification Number, NIN, is a requirement for application.”
According to her, the movement to the new platform is now 80 percent complete.
“Interestingly, this process has also been completed in some of our offices in the diaspora including the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America.”
Contrary to a widely held belief that the booklets are produced outside the country by foreigners, DCG Hassan dispelled the rumour insisting that Nigerians’ international passports are produced in the country by Nigerians.
She emphasised that while immigration officers are responsible for the production, a Nigerian firm, IRIS Smart Technologies is the technical partner that handles the supply, installation, and maintenance of the machines.
On alleged corrupt practices of some personnel, Mrs. Hassan said that the Immigration service has in place a mechanism to checkmate and punish erring staff members involved in such malpractices.
“Our boss, CG Adepoju Carol Wura-Ola, has warned passport applicants to stop inducing our officers with monies in order to gain undue favour. After all, under the law, there is punishment for both the giver and the taker of bribes.
“Meanwhile, the NIS has anti-corruption and Servicom units where cases of erring officers are handled on a regular basis for investigation and prosecution if necessary.
“We have said it times without number, it is on our website and boldly written at facilities and premises displayed in sensitisation banners in all the passport offices nationwide warning applicants not to give bribes to NIS officers under any guise.”

While applauding the CG as regards the welfare of service personnel and the provision of additional facilities, she said that the new Minister of Interior has proven his exceptional leadership qualities by motivating the service to do more.
“The movement of the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, to the Ministry of Interior has further enhanced collaboration, harmonisation and synchronisation of data within the shortest times which eases our work. We no longer have to wait for information from other agencies under a different ministry to carry out our statutory mandate.”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has appointed a member of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Olufemi Oladapo Soneye, as Chief Corporate Communications Officer.
The Management of the national oil company in Nigeria confirmed the appointment in a statement on its X handle.
In the statement today , October 18, the NNPCL said that Soneye, a seasoned journalist with full-time and freelance experience at some of the world’s most respected publications in Nigeria, Australia and the United States of America, will lead the corporate communications team of the national oil company and drive the brand penetration, strategic communications initiatives and stakeholder management.
Apart from GOCOP, Soneye is also a member of other reputable bodies such as the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), National Association of Black Journalists and Society of Professional Journalists.
He is a former President of the Nigerian Media Practitioners, Washington, DC, United States of America.

Soneye, who resides in the United States of America, is the Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of Per Second online newspaper.

Source: The Eagle Online.

Senator Elisha Abbo who was sacked by the Appeal Court on Monday as senator representing Adamawa North has apologized to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio over his earlier claim that Senator Akpabio influenced the judgment against him at the Court of Appeal.
Speaking on Arise News Television on Tuesday night, Senator Abbo denied any plot by him or any other senator to impeach the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Senator Abbo reneged on his earlier claim that Senator Akpabio had plans to kick out Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and three other senators.
“I have to say this with all sense of humility and responsibility that the press release that we rendered yesterday (Monday) was premature as the available information at our disposal then portended.
“We discovered a lot of things yesterday…yesterday night, I also had a discussion with my leader, senior brother, colleague and the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Akpabio and I am convinced that he was not involved in my exit from the Senate.”
Senator Abbo said that he also got a more credible and authenticated intelligence on Tuesday morning to the effect that Senator Akpabio was not involved in kicking him out of the Senate through the Court of Appeal.
“Based on every additional intelligence that trickled in, Senator Godswill Akpabio’s innocence was unarguably without any doubt.”
On reports of attempts in the past to impeach the Senate President, Senator Abbo who was reportedly linked to the alleged plot said:
“I want to say that there was no plan to impeach the Senate President at any time, who himself was a product of the popular votes of confidence by us(his colleagues). I support and respect Senator Godswill Akpabio to deliver on the core mandate of the Nigerian people.
“I am praying for God to give him wisdom because the senate is a chamber of equals and I am praying for wisdom for him to know how to manage his colleagues because I don’t want him to fail.”
Abbo prayed for Akpabio to succeed.
Hon Eseme Eyiboh, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President of the Senate, who was also on the same programme commended Senator Abbo for his apology saying: “what he has done today is a very rare act of strength of character by coming out publicly to apologise to his father and his leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio by the umbrage.
“So, I want to thank him for that demonstration of goodwill and he will go places; and Akpabio for who he is, will not withhold any blessing and affection from him.”

The new Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has said that as part of the refocusing of the Commission, Nigerians will be made to access to affordable and reliable broadband services.
Dr. Maida, who spoke to the Senior Management team of the Commission at the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja yesterday, October 17, said that there is a need to ensure that the NCC strategically focuse on ensuring that all Nigerians have access to affordable and reliable broadband services.
Part of this is to ensure “effective broadband infrastructure diffusion across the length and breadth of Nigeria.”
Dr. Maida said that the pursuit of improved quality of service on the networks will be one of his priorities, as well as supporting the vision of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Communications’ Innovations and Digital Economy.

“Considering the fact that many people are going more digital and virtual in everything they do, the telecom infrastructure is now under much stress. “President Tinubu’s vision emphasises the need to build more robust broadband connectivity that will not only facilitate seamless digital transactions but also serve as the bedrock for e-governance and other socio-economic initiatives.
“As such, we would align with this aspiration to increase broadband penetration to 70 per cent and to cover 90 per cent of the population by 2025. Therefore, we need to build a reliable telecom industry with impressive quality of service (QoS) indicators with quality of experience (QoE) as our watchword and ultimate goal.
“This also requires us to address a number of issues such as the Right of Way (RoW) challenge, ensuring security of our telecom infrastructure, among others. Efforts must be made to significantly improve service delivery by ensuring the NCC is performance-driven.
“Mr. President has a very clear agenda from which all of us are going to take our direction. The two major areas are job creation and enabling the digital economy. Where we are going in a nutshell is; everything that we do in this Commission has to align directly with the Strategic Plan of the Hon. Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr.vBosun Tijani and ultimately to the Renewed Hope agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We would not deviate from that.
“We would not entertain anything that deviates from this direction because my key performance indicators (KPIs) are fed into the Minister’s KPIs and the President KPIs come from the electorate that put him into power.
“The Hon. Minister has said clearly that he is ready to build a robust digital infrastructure and empower three million Nigerians digitally and we have to do our best to support him in this regard.”
Dr. Maida said that in the Strategic Plan of the Minister, there is a plan to empower three million Nigerians in digital skills and entrepreneurship, adding that this will require the Commission to support Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) as a digital training institution, to be well positioned in driving the government’s agenda on youth empowerment.
The EVC also emphasised the importance of effective spectrum management and utilisation in supporting the envisioned digital connectivity agenda, which is critical to service deployment to the generality of Nigerians and businesses in the country.”
Dr. Maida appreciated his predecessors and the entire staff of the Commission for the laudable role being played in digital transformation of all sectors by stimulating the deployment of baseline telecom infrastructure, even as he called on the staff of the Commission to join his leadership with a sense of purpose as a team towards advancing the actualisation of the President’s Renewed Hope agenda, which, he said, recognises a thriving digital economy in achieving sustainable development and quality of life for all citizens.

Former Permanent Secretary in the State House, the Presidency, Alhaji Jalal Ahmad Arabi has been appointed as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that his appointment has been approved by President Bola Tinubu.
This is even as the President directed the outgoing Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, to proceed on 3-month pre-retirement leave as provisioned by Public Service Rule (PSR) 120243 with effect from October 18, 2023, leading to his eventual retirement from service on January 17, 2023.
The new Chairman/CEO of NAHCON will assume office in acting capacity on October 18, 2023, and will continue to serve in substantive capacity for a fresh term of four years, beginning on January 17, 2023.
President Bola Tinubu also approved the dissolution of the Board of NAHCON.

The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has ordered the demolition of brothels and other black spots in Maiduguri, the state capital.
Governor Zulum gave the order during a visit to ‘Bayan Quarters’ a settlement around Railway staff quarters believed to be habouring criminals, prostitutes and illicit drug traders.
The governor expressed concern over the rise in criminal activities associated with brothels and directed government agencies to dismantle them within 72 hours.
He said that the activities are posing a threat to the security as hoodlums perpetuate social vices that undermine the well-being of communities and the dignity of the individuals involved.
The Governor said that while the settlement which harbours criminals and minor girls engaged in commercial sex activities would be demolished within 72 hours, the illegal brothels have 12 hours to vacate.
“The government has been duly informed of the activities that are going on here; this settlement is completely illegal. People are killed here, this place serves as a breeding space for insurgents.
“I have directed that everybody should vacate the place.”
Governor Zulum also announced the revocation of the land titles where such criminal activities are perpetuated, pointing out that the titles were initially approved for the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
“I understand that this land was approved by the Borno Government to be used by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), but it has been rented out illegally with all forms of criminal activities taking place.
“For this reason, the government has revoked the earlier approval; henceforth, the land belongs to the Borno Government.”

Source: NAN.