1 July 2019
I had an interesting experience for the first time in my over 26 years of applying or renewing my passports. This interesting scenerio was devoid of the constant phenomena at some passport/immigration offices across the country.
The Nigeria Immigration Service Passport control office in calabar is obviously a beacon of hope for Nigeria.
Yesterday, i was just thinking of how i will travel to Lagos and go through the process of renewing my passport which is due for renewal in December and i have a visa appointment which requires 6 months validity.
Then i remembered i had my passport in calabar and so asked my acting head of station if he knew anyone at the calabar NIS. 10 minutes he came back and said he had spoken to a contact and i should go there today by 9am and i asked how long will it take and he said same day …. may be 4 hours ….. i just looked at him and said JOKER and walked away.
Behold true to his words i got to the passport office without mentioning who i was and met other applicants going through a seamless and respectable process and guess what, in less than 45minutes i had my passport renewed and walked away without destroying cars like my UK brother. YES 45 MINUTES…… NO TOUTS , NO INTERMEDIARIES, OPEN OFFICE, COURTEOUS OFFICERS, OPEN DOOR POLICY, NO EXTRA BUT OFFICIAL RATE AND ALL APPLICANTS TREATED EQUALLY.
I also spoke to a few applicants and that was their testimony and note the PCO didnt know who i was until i was almost through with the process when his officers all expressed surprised while capturing and saw my name ….. then they told the controller. Looool
He even confirmed that he has made it his watchword to apply EQUITY in how his men attend to applicants.
I want to use this medium to THANK the PCO Mr. Ita Nta, the 2iC Mr Ogundeji , the officer who attended to my renewal Mr Ekpenyong Akah.
Kudos to NIS calabar. I
This shows there is HOPE for NIGERIA.
Fidelis DUKER
Calabar. June, 2019
