Aregbesola Catches Immigration Officer Extorting Passport Applicants In Lagos

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has queried an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for extorting passport applicants at the Alausa Passport Office of the NIS on Wednesday.

Aregbesola paid a surprise visit to the passport office and caught the officer (name not given) in the act, according to a statement by Sola Fasure, a media adviser to the minister.

Whilst listening to feedback from applicants who were waiting for their data capturing, an applicant complained about the application process, which in his opinion was cumbersome.

“After I completed my application and chose today for my data capturing appointment, I printed every necessary document.

“However, on my arrival here, I was asked to start filling a manual form again, which I had filled online and printed already,” the applicant complained.

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The minister thereafter asked the Passport Control Officer at the station, Mrs B. L. Bukar, to explain the breach of due process, noting that such a request was strange.

The statement said the officer who allegedly sold the form and made the request for the manual filling was identified and subsequently queried.

He told the officers on duty that they were servants of the people and this must be reflected in their attitude at work and the way they relate with passport applicants.

He warned them to avoid creating false gridlock that frustrates and exasperates the people.