In 2006, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) restricted the correction of passport data to its headquarters in Abuja. The policy followed the introduction of the e-passport and was designed to prevent illegal changes to passports and minimise occurrences of stolen or transferred passports between siblings or friends, Chukwuemeka Obua, the Commission’s public relations officer at the time, said.

After 17 years, the contention with the policy is still the same: the NIS failed to take into account the ease of accessibility and safety of Nigerians in other parts of the country, forcing them to undertake the process at high personal costs or put it aside.

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On Tuesday, Oloye Adesina (not real name), a retired medical doctor based in Ondo State, told FIJ that he visited the Ilesa passport office in September to renew his passport and correct an error on his date of birth. He was, however, redirected to the immigration headquarters in Abuja.

“I applied for my first passport and captured my data here. Why can’t I make corrections here? ” He asked, but there was nothing they could do, he was told. To alter his data, he had to visit the head office.

When the data correction policy was first announced in 2006, Obua told the press that “whenever an individual’s data is altered his or her identity is affected”. He argued that it was a very sensitive issue; therefore, only the headquarters could resolve such matters.

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The policy, however well-meaning, appears to be an impediment even for honest citizens.

Adesina, for instance, said he had gone to renew his passport for use, and wanted his data corrected in his renewed passport but was being held back by the mandatory head office visit in Abuja.

“I even called the Akure office. They said the same thing. The money is not even the issue,” he complained, emphasising that “it is the stress that is the problem. It is just too much.”

“To travel all the way to Abuja from Akure for data correction, why? Please help us bring it to the minister’s attention,” he said.

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s minister of interior, has implemented multiple initiatives to increase the NIS’s efficiency since his appointment, especially in connection with passport issuance. The policies have, however, yet to reflect on the passport data correction process.

FIJ contacted immigration spokesperson Tony Akumene for details about the policy and whether it was still in effect, and he confirmed that it was. He stated that in order to rectify any data information, the applicant must visit the head office in Abuja. He declined to respond when asked why the NIS still maintained this policy.