Oshiomhole flags off new 64-page e- passport in Edo

Governor Adams Oshiomhole has flagged off the
new 64-page e-Passport in Edo State, saying the
new passport released by the Nigerian Immigration
Service (NIS), is in tandem with what obtains in
other civilized parts of the world.
Speaking at the event at the Offices of the Nigeria
Immigration Service in Benin City, yesterday,
Oshiomhole also commended the Immigration for
their contribution to the maintenance of peace and
security in the state.
He said, “I had wondered quietly why the passport
carries few pages as a result of which you are
compelled to have more than one passport. When
you have a British passport of ten years, if you are
a frequent traveler, within two years, you would
have finished the pages of the passport and yet
some of the visas are still valid. The result is that
most frequent travelers find themselves carrying
bundles of passport, the current one and the one
that carries your valid visa.
“It seems to me that it is only Nigerians that carry
more than one passport. Sometimes, I find myself
carrying more than one and when they ask me, I
say, this one is where the visa is and then this one
is the current one. I think for me therefore, your
management has responded proactively to
something that has been of concern to many people
especially those who are frequent travelers and this
to me is what leadership is about.”
The Governor appreciated the President, Goodluck
Jonathan, the Minister of Interior and the
Comptroller-General of the Immigration for the
wonderful initiative as it is a capital benefit to every
person who wants to travel.
According to him, “I want to thank the Immigration
Service for their role in the maintenance of security
in Edo State. Most people identify the Immigration
Service only in terms of passport issuance for
Nigerians when you are travelling but I know, as a
steward in Edo State, that the Immigration Service
is also part and parcel of our security service.
“At a time when foreigners, some with criminal
intentions attempt to freely violate our boundaries
and take advantage of our hospitality to perpetrate
crime, the Immigration Service has been very
helpful at the level of security committee in Edo
State. They are making their own contributions to
ensure that foreigners with criminal intentions,
whether they are insurgents or kidnappers or they
are involved in any form of criminalities are
identified and proactively dealt with.
“I want to assure you that whatever we can do at
the level of our state government to identify with
your service, be assured of our willingness to
cooperate with you”, he said.
Earlier, the Deputy Controller of the Immigration
Service, Edo State, Mrs. T. Agwai who stood in for
the Comptroller, Mr A.O Alana said it was a major
shift in passport technology and first of its kind in
Africa adding that Nigeria was the first to pioneer it
in Africa and 50th in the World.
She disclosed that it conforms to the International
Civil Aviation Organisation Standard and recognises
the holders distinguishing characteristics for easy
clearance.
She advised that the passport be handled with care
because once the chip attached to it is damaged,
the authenticity cannot be verified and the passport
will be rendered useless.
She also said that the cost of the new 64 page e-
passport is N20,000.