No doubt Ikoyi passport office is the foremost Passport office in Nigeria which approximately attends to over one thousand applicants daily. Though all effort to speak to the passport controller officer(PCO) Mr. Mannir was unsuccessful due to the loads of work and several applicants yawning for his attention.
Integrityreporters correspondent discovered that there are new buildings being built by the corporate bodies like First bank, Gtbank, Zenith bank, Access bank which create conducive environment for the applicants and staff of the passport office. When speaking with one of the staff who preferred his name not to be mentioned, he extolled the creativity of the present Passport controller officer(PCO) Mr. Mannir for the new innovation into the system. “Each applicants gets their new passport in less than 5 days of application” unlike before that it can take months”, the man said.
It was equally observed that the internet service installed at the passport office for the applicants usage is effective and efficient ,this was done by guaranty trust bank( GTB) through the unrelenting effort of passport controller officer Mr. Mannir, GTBank took it upon itself to install WIFI as part of its corporate social responsibilities. While modern toilets, clinic and standard restaurant were built by other corporate bodies.
Again first bank Nigeria is equally angling for space at Ikoyi passport office so as to build a befitting canteen for relaxation to staff, officers and applicants. Though, a conducive place with WIFI and Air condition has been built for any applicants waiting for collection of passport. An applicant told integrityreporters that collection of the passport has been made easy during the current PCO tenure.
NIMC, the agency responsible for the issuance of National identity card has an office located inside the compound of Ikoyi passport office this make it easier for the applicants to use one stone to kill two birds as they say. there is synergy between the two Federal agencies for effective operation.
When making enquiry about the availability of booklet which previously caused delay in the issuance of international passport to the applicants ,Our correspondent was made to realized that there is abundant of booklets to cater for all applicants.
One of the applicants named Olusegun expresses his satisfaction to the service rendered to him from the time he applied for his international passport to the point of collection, he said that the process was so perfect and smooth, he concluded that ‘the tout has been eradicated’.
