The Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) has identified cutting corners as one of the major challenges to the delay in the issuance of the international passport.

The NIS spokesman at Ogun State command, Olajide Oyefeso, said this in Abeokuta at the retirement ceremony of the Passport Control Officer (PCO), Tony Kayode.

He explained that there are standard rules and procedures provided to ease access to collect national passports from the immigration services. Oyefeso expressed worry that most people like to cut corners, which mostly hinders the process.

The spokesman said, “There are standard rules and procedures provided to ease access in the collection of national passports by the Nigeria Immigration Services to help people out, but the majority of the people like to cut corners, which is part of what mostly hinders the process at this time.

“There is a standard for every procedure, but the majority of people don’t want to follow the procedure. That is why you may see a lot of people here because some of them want to travel out of the country, but I do tell them that there is no better country than Nigeria. We all need to stand firm in order to make our country better.”

The spokesman also noted that the provision of e-registration has enhanced the process.

He, however, assured Nigerians that the commission is “constantly working on all issues surrounding the delay in the application process and issuance of the passport.”

In his remarks, the retired controller Passport Officer, PCO Kayode, urged the serving officers to emulate a good character and always put humanity first in their dealings.

He posited that “everyone would reap whatever he or she sows while in the service.”