NIGERIA Immigration Service (NIS) has inaugurated two more passport and biometric visa facilities in Tokyo, Japan; and Seoul, South Korea bringing to a total of 44 foreign missions, 43 local and four front offices where passports are issued to Nigerian citizens.
Inaugurating the facilities on November 21, 2019, Minister of interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said it was borne out of the yearnings of both the Nigerian community and the Embassy on the need to open a passport issuance centre in Tokyo due to the distance Nigerians have to cover in order to have their passports re-issued.
He said,†In response to these requests, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, in his commitment to the citizens and ease of doing business, approved this facility and the service of issuing both e-passports and biometric visa in Japan.
“Suffice to say that this provision and service is not limited to Tokyo Japan; we will open tomorrow another e-passport and biometric visa facilities in our Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, bringing to a total of 44 foreign missions, 43 local and four front offices where Nigeria Immigration Service issues passports to our citizens.
He said the Biometric visa is an improved security on the current vignette visa Nigeria Immigration issues and that this new biometric visa will assist Nigeria’s national security and assist in combatting transnational organized crime as it conforms with international migration management and best practice.
“It is important to state that this new visa and passport regime connects with MIDAS (migration information and data analysis system) which is linked with the INTERPOL data. This simply means criminals and their affiliates can no longer use our system anywhere in the world to perpetrate their crimes. We are proudly adopting technology to secure our land and join the global efforts at preventing human trafficking and illegitimate activities.
He further advised, “I will like to seize this opportunity to call on Nigerians resident in Japan to respect the laws of the host country. Self-respect, particularly in foreign lands, is the foundation of wisdom and success. As our Ambassador at large in this peaceful and friendly country, you must exhibit at all times good conduct, character’ nobility and dignity.
According to the Service Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunday James, the Comptroller General, NIS, Mr. Muhammad Babandede, also informed the general public that these facilities are expected to start attending to passport and visa applications with immediate effect.
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