Corruption: NIS halts passport collection from Abuja

The newly sworn in Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, yesterday vowed to stop passport officers from coming to Abuja for collection of booklets. Babandede, who told newsmen in a Abuja that the step would reduce corruption in the system, added that additional passport offices would be opened in state commands where existing passport office was getting overwhelmed with high demand.
He said approval for replacement of lost passports shall henceforth be given by attempting comptroller after online vetting and processing of application at the Passport Division in the headquarters . The CG expressed concern that the NIS ship had drifted in the wrong direction as officers had lost focus of the primary purpose of being in the Immigration Service. Babandede, gave assurance that he would ensure that the NIS would be repositioned to meet the objectives for its establishment to cope with contemporary security challenges in the country. He further assured that the NIS, under his stewardship, must be returned to the path of honour, intergrity, discipline and unalloyed commitment to national security it was known for. “I am setting up an anti-corruption squad, but before this I will hold the zonal coordinators and comptroller responsible. I don’t want your blood money… “All zonal coordinators and state comptroller must put an end to this to provide a comfortable environment for operatives. “We will also do our best to send the limited resources available for operations to avoid operatives funding legitimate job with corrupt monies,” he said.