New NIS Comptroller Partners NUJ for  Improved Service Delivery

By Okechukwu Onuegbu

The Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), Anambra State command, Mrs Ngozi Odikpo has promised to partner with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), for improved service delivery.

Odikpo, who disclosed this while receiving the new executive members of NUJ Anambra State Council led by Comrade Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu,JP in her office, explained that with the media, their clients would be well informed of their services and new innovation.

Her words: "We are aware that a collaboration with the media is essential in what we do. We know that with this partnership people will be cleared in the area they are not sure of. We will do everything humanly possible to deliver on our mandate. We are also ready to attend to all our customers during our customers service week which starts from Monday February 14 to Friday 17 (especially on 16 and 17)," she noted. 

According to the Comptroller, aside issuance of passports, NIS with its staff posted all over the local government areas, provides other services including ECOWAS travelling and residency documents, undercover, surveillance and grassroots investigation.

"All information you need about us, our facilities and services are on our website, immigration.gov.ng. NIS has been adjuged as an institution with the most user friendly website. We don't know why people do not access the website. People  should always visit the website to be well informed," she noted.

She said there were some changes in passport issuance processes in their office, adding that in two weeks time, their system would be configured to migrate to the appointment based system in Anambra. 

"After you complete the online passport processing, you will generate an appointment date in which you will be attended to. It is a system configured. It does not depend on any officer. And anything outside that date you will not be attended to unless approved from our head office," she submitted.

The NIS boss also stressed the needs for customers to always apply for new passports prior to six months expiration date as they would not be allowed to travel with them once from six months downward.

Earlier, the Chairman, NUJ, Anambra State Council, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, called on the Anambra State government to liaise with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to connect the State command's of Nigeria Immigration Services to national grid, as not doing so had impacted negatively on their services. The command had been running on generator since it's inception in the state. 

Dr Odogwu also enjoined the command to expedite action towards improving in their international passports processing services, including the need to investigate and possibly put an end to alleged corrupt practices in the system, even as he assured that journalists in the state would never relent in reporting their activities professionally. He assured NIS Boss of a better robust relationship with the media.