Federal Government has approved a 10-year validity period for Nigerian passport, in line with international standards.

Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr Mohammed Babadede, announced this yesterday, in Lagos, during the launching of Guaranty Trust Bank’s e-passport, at Ikoyi Passport Office. He said reforms have been put in place to incriminate officers caught with cash.

He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari said we should fight corruption. We cannot fight corruption when officers have access to cash. If they can’t see the money, then, we can put everything in check. Officers you are, hereby, warned; if I see you with cash, it is tantamount to being corrupt and deserves severe punishment.

“Mr. President has approved that Nigerian passport should be valid for 10 years. There is also plans for the passport to be produced in the country, to secure the production and authenticity of the passport. Other reforms are that immigration will work with National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to keep a one-stop online database.”

Also, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr Segun Agbaje, said the bank worked in line with the vision of Babandede and Buhari to erase middlemen and limit corrupt act.

“The payment solution we are putting in place will ensure that nobody is given a passport before they pay. There will be no leakages and middlemen and the money will go directly to Immigration Service. It is to create a one-stop to passport collection in the country,” he said.

Sun