She also explained why the issuance of new passports takes some time to complete.
The NIS boss spoke on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, “Sunrise Daily”, monitored by The Nation yesterday.
She said the NIS was working on automating the passport application process to reduce the stress and delay Nigerians experience while applying for passports.
Mrs. Adepoju said: “One thing Nigerians know about the Nigeria Immigration Service is the issuance of the Nigerian passport. We know the number of Nigerians that have applied for passports in the past two years have been very high and unprecedented.
“But be that as it may, the service is working hard to ensure that we meet the expectations of Nigerians. Number one: we are automating our passport application process; we are trying to ensure that we cut out human interface.
“Our applications are available online and we are trying to sensitise our applicants that they should go online for these applications to avoid patronising louts.”
The NIS boss advised Nigerians to always start passport renewal application six months before expiration.
She noted that fresh applicants do not need to wait till they need the passport before the start application process.
Mrs. Adepoju said: “So, I try as much as possible to let people know that if you are renewing your passport, don’t wait until it is completely expired. You can start your application process when you have six months validity on it. Then, for fresh applicants, they don’t have to wait until the very last moment when they need the passport.”
The NIS boss explained that a fresh application takes six weeks to get the passport ready, while it takes three weeks for a renewal.
She said: “Presently, considering the crowds in our passport offices, I’m trying to put up a memo to the appropriate quarters that something should be done about renewal, as it is done in other climes.
“Once we have your data, we should be able to renew your passport by online application without necessarily going into the passport offices. That will reduce the crowd. So, visiting the passport office will be left to only fresh applicants who need their data to be captured.”
Also, the NIS has redeployed passports officers in Alausa, Ikeja, and Festac (Lagos State), Kano, Edo and Ondo states.
They are among the 15 Passports Control Officers redeployed by the Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Mrs. Wura-Ola Adepoju, in a major reform to deepen the process of obtaining the document.
Other state officers affected by the redeployment are: Anambra, Bayelsa, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Enugu, Abia, and Taraba states.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Acting Public Relations Officer of the service, Kenneth Kure, said the redeployment of the Passports Control Officers was approved by the acting Comptroller-General “to deepen the ongoing passport reform process”.
“The deployment is part of NIS management’s drive to upgrade the passport administration both at home and in our foreign missions.
“The Acting CGI assured that the current leadership of the service remains resolute in its commitment to transforming passport offices into customer-centric service centres,” the statement said.
It explained that the Posting Order, signed by the Acting Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Human Resource Management, Usman Babangida, consisted of the names of the affected passport offices.
“They include Alausa and Festac, both in Lagos, as well as the ones in Edo, Anambra, Bayelsa, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Enugu, Abia, Kano, Taraba and Ondo, among others,” Kure said.
Mrs. Adepoju enjoined the redeployed officers to bring their wealth of experience to the new offices and contribute to the improvement of service delivery.