The Nigerian immigration service, Ondo State Command, has warned residents against patronizing individuals parading themselves as agents who dupe people of their hard-earned resources in a bid to acquire an international passport.
The command warned in Akure, Ondo State capital, while parading three suspected members of a passport racketeering syndicate.
On assumption of duty as interior minister, Hon.Olubunmi Tunji Ojo gave the directive that passport issuance should not take more than two weeks.
But even as the directive has already started to yield results, some suspected members of a passport racketeering gang are still engaging in the illegal act but ran out of luck as they were arrested in Akure
Public relations officer of the immigration service in Ondo State, Taiwo Alebiosun, said the suspects, who capitalized on the previous lapses in passport administration, charged between eighty thousand and one hundred and sixty-five thousand naira for passport issuance.
The command assured that the era of waiting for months to obtain Nigerian passports is over.
According to the immigration service, the suspects will be arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigations.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
