New E-passport Valid For All Countries – Immigration Boss, Muhammad Babandede Reassures Nigerians
Muhammad Babandede, the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said the enhanced electronic passport is acceptable and valid for entering all countries. The general gave the reassurance in a statement by NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday James, in Abuja recently.
Comptroller Babandede’s statement is coming against the backdrop of the recent problem on the e-Passport with the authority of the United Arab Emirate(UAE), News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports.
Last month, a Nigerian woman was detained at Dubai airport for using the new updated passport. According to the officials at the airport, they are not aware of the new passport tendered because a specimen has not been sent to them from Nigeria.
Reacting to this, Babandede said:
“The recent problem on the e-Passport with the authority of the United Arab Emirate (UAE) has been resolved. I will like to seize this opportunity to thank both the Ambassadors of UAE and Nigeria for resolving the issue.
“In view of the above, Nigerians are encouraged to get their National Identity Number (NIN) and ensure that the information tallies with the one on their Passports.
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“The uniformity of the NIN information and that of the 10-year validity Passport is to ensure one identity which is a major feature of the new enhanced e-Passport.”
He further said that the new Passport was available in the Service Headquarters, Abuja and Ikoyi, pending the roll-out in other centres. Babandede added:
”It is worthy to note that the issuance of the former and the new enhanced e-Passports will run concurrently.”