The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday commissioned the newly established Passport Front Office in Abuja.
The specialised facility is designed to provide seamless and timely passport processing for senior government officials and other specially designated individuals.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Tunji-Ojo said the office was established in response to persistent challenges faced by high-ranking public officials in accessing passport services.
He said, “Before now, many top-level public servants had to abandon their official duties and endure long queues at standard passport offices. It became clear that for us to serve the nation more effectively, we must also serve those tasked with its leadership more efficiently.”
The minister commended the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for its professionalism and expertise in implementing the project, while acknowledging the critical partnership with Iris Smart Technologies, which supplied the cutting-edge digital infrastructure that powers the new facility.
“This facility sets a new benchmark for excellence and will significantly improve access, reduce waiting time, and elevate the overall passport service delivery standard,” he stated.
Tunji-Ojo described the initiative as a key component of the broader reform agenda launched by the Ministry in 2023.
“When we came in, it was shocking to realize that the Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Immigration Service had no dedicated passport facility for public officials. Today marks a turning point as we begin to bridge that gap and set a new course for service delivery in our nation,” he said.
He also reaffirmed the commitment of the Renewed Hope Administration of President Bola Tinubu to transformative reforms across all sectors of the economy.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, welcomed stakeholders to the commissioning ceremony, and described the occasion as “very significant.”
She noted that the Passport Front Office would serve as a high-priority channel for the dignified and efficient processing of passport applications for public officials whose mobility is vital to national service.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including the Minister of Water Resources, Professor Joseph Utsev; Controller-Generals of all Services under the Ministry of Interior; senior officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service; representatives from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, partner agencies, and members of the press.
