It’s really a hard and rough time for Nigerian passport holders seeking to renew their passports courtesy of the frustrating policies of the minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
In as much as the minister is trying to bring new innovations into the system, it would be of interest to note that the idea of demanding for birth certificate, age declaration, certificate of local government of origin among others for passport renewal is highly unacceptable and one with the capacity to project and paint Nigerians with passports in bad image in the global community.
No doubt that the minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has brought innovations into the ministry since assumption of office especially with the online passport application which makes it easier and more convenient to apply for passport.
He must also do things with utmost priority to the image of Nigeria and Nigerians by projecting us in positive and good light before the world. Nigerians with passports all of the world have data and this should only be built upon in respect of any new policy.
Asking for birth certificate, age declaration or certificate of local government of origin for passport renewal means telling the world that Nigeria is a fake nation and a failed state in which people don’t have their birth, age and origin documentation before getting their passports.
How have Nigerians with passports gotten their first passports without these documents? We believe Nigeria is not a Banana Republic and so, we have a valid database system.
While trying to copy policies from other countries like Germany and others, Hon. Tunji-Ojo should understand that Nigeria already has a valid and globally acceptable means of passport application, processing and issuance.
The database of every passport holder in Nigeria is not hidden and thus, some requirements and not supposed to be needed for passport renewal except for fresh application.
The idea of demanding for birth certificate, age declaration and local government verification for passport renewal is frustrating and not helpful to passport holders. It’s only a way of making things difficult for passport renewal.
With the policy, is he trying to tell the world that Nigerians in various countries are there with fake and unauthentic documents? Is he projecting Nigerians before the world as people who did not come from places and local government of origin they claimed to come from? Or trying to tell the world that the ages in Nigerian passports are fake and unverifiable? All these and more are the questions that at the end of the day would discredit Nigeria and Nigerians before other nations of the world.
As a group that so much believe in this administration to deliver on it Renewed Hope Agenda to Nigerians, we are appealing to the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to reconsider this position for the benefit of Nigerians trying to make ends meet as this policy would require to pay money for all the unnecessary processes and still pay the passport renewal fees.
Our group, BAT’s 4/4 Renewed Hope Agenda is totally committed to the Renewed Hope Agenda of mr president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and thus, not ready to fold arms and watch any policy that would set the people against the president and his good will.
It is therefore our duty to always pinpoint any area in the administration that needed to be looked into and adjusted for the overall good of our nation.
We once again use this medium to reiterate our supports for the Renewed Hope Agenda of mr president and we believe in his capacity and competence to squarely address the challenges currently facing our dear country.
