There are concerning signs of a potential scarcity of e-passport booklets in Nigeria, driven by unresolved payment issues to vendors and stakeholders involved in the travel document’s production chain, according to a report by Leadership.
A top source within the passport office at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters revealed that the situation arises from the non-payment of significant production debts to vendors and major stakeholders involved in the value chain of the e-passport.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the gross income collected from passport applicants is deposited into the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Treasury Single Account (TSA). However, before these funds are utilized for operational purposes, the federal government deducts 50% as net income, leaving insufficient funds for the NIS to service its vendors and stakeholders adequately.
Explaining the predicament, the source illustrated, “For instance, the 32-page passport booklet costs $132 outside Nigeria, and the 64-page category is priced at $230. When applicants pay in dollars, the funds are directed to the Federal Account, which is shared among the three tiers of government monthly by the Federation Account Committee (FAAC).”
The officer further confirmed a shortage of 32-page booklets across the 48 passport-issuing outlets outside Nigeria and the 44 outlets within the country. Although there is an excess of 64-page booklets, demand for this category remains low.