FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES E-PASSPORT IN UNITED KINGDOM

The Federal Government has launched an enhanced e-Passport in the United
Kingdom to improve the passport application process for Nigerians at home
and in the diaspora.

This was disclosed in a statement by Sola Fasure, Media Adviser to Minister of
Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

Aregbesola during the official rollout at the Nigerian High Commission in
London, United Kingdom said the Nigerian passport is the highest affirmation
of Nigerian citizenship, and therefore it is the responsibility of the Government
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide the passport without any stress,
within a reasonable period.

Aregbesola also noted that the new passport is an improvement from the
standard Passport that was introduced back in 2007, with more sophisticated
security features, making it one of the most secured passports in the world.

The Minister also said the NIS under his tenure has issued a total of two point
seven million Nigerian passports in the past two years.

In a remark, Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service,
DCG Isa Jere, revealed the readiness of the agency to meet the demands for
passports in the United Kingdom, stating that his officers are ready to roll out
the new passports, going forward, at the official rate published on the NIS
website.