To ameliorate the sufferings of heavy Nigerian travelers, the Federal Government on Wednesday launched the new 64-page Nigerian e-passport.
The new travel document will be in use with the existing 32-page e-passport.
President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo were issued their new passports after their data were captured before the Federal Executive Council meeting started at the State House, Abuja.
Jonathan urged the immigration officers to be efficient and committed as the impression they give visitors at the point of entry like the airports determine the perception the country gets.
He also tasked the service to do everything possible to end the complaints of Nigerians abroad by making it easier for them to get Nigerian passports.
He said: “I always sympathize with those who travel almost on a weekly basis, changing passport every month, at least we have moved a step forward. The key thing is for us to have a robust relationship with key countries so that some of these frequent travelers may not need visas, that will really help us more.
“One thing one must know today is that it is not the issue of 64-page passport that is key to Nigerians but the security. If our passport could be easily faked by criminals, then we will have problems. One thing again is that how can Nigerians be able to get passport easily especially those living outside this country.
“When I travel there is this complaints about how to get the Nigerian passport not necessarily the issue of 64-page passport but how do they get passport, so the ministry must look into this.”
He went on: “What affects every traveler is how efficient and committed our immigration officers work at our airports, visitors that come into the country have different impressions about our immigration officers, so they must improve. They are the image of this country, how they handle visitors matters so much, if they conduct themselves poorly, it reflects on all of us. So their conducts at the airports are key besides the passport.”[The Nation]