By DADA AYOKHAI
The federal government has relived the Burgen of acquiring international Passport in Edo state with the recent official opening of an outlet in Auchi, the headquarters of Etsako west LGA.
Before now, all passport related issues are handle in the Benin office.
The stress of acquiring the international passport which is cumbersome must have led to the formation of the New office.
It’s expected that passport seekers in Edo north which comprises of six LGAs, part of Edo central and okene axis in kogi state which shares border with Edo state on the Auchi axis will also benefits from the opening of the New office.
The New passport office was commissioned by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Saturday at a well attended ceremony.
According to the minister the commissioning of the passport office is part of the efforts of the federal government towards effective service delivery to Nigerians.
He said the federal government would soon launch a home delivery service of passports to their owners.
At the visit to the Otaru of Auchi’s Palace, the Otaru, HRH, Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh, Ikelebe III, turbaned Aregbesola, and then installed him as the Rafeeq of Auchi Sacred Kingdom which means he is a bosom friend of the Auchi Kingdom.
Speaking after the commissioning of the new office, he said “What we are doing here is significant for two main reasons. The first is the right of Nigerians, especially those in the Diaspora to hold the Nigerian passport. Except for those travelling outside the country or intend to, most of those who hold the passport do so for identification purposes. For some, it is also a thing of pride to be able to brandish the green back of the passport. But for those outside the country, the passport is the proof of their existence. Inability to produce it on demand may bring untoward consequences. The government therefore wants to provide the passport for anyone desirous of it within reasonable time, at affordable price and without any stress whatsoever.
“The second is the need, flowing from the first, to break out of the regular” and promised to conclude negotiations with NIPOST on the usage of its speedy mail service to start delivering passports to Nigerians who opt for such service.
