THE Federal Government on Thursday announced various measures to address passport scarcity and racketeering by Immigration officials and their collaborators at the nation’s passport offices. The PUNCH had reported the racketeering and extortion at passport offices and the inability of Nigerians to obtain the booklets they paid for. Aregbesola confirmed the situation, noting that the passport issuance was challenged by shortage of booklets, touting, racketeering, cost inflation and passports being issued to ineligible persons. The minister stated, “We are going to embed security operatives – seen and unseen – in all our passport offices. They will detect and report any form of solicitations, inflation, improper communications, extortion, diversion, hoarding and other corrupt practices.

Source: Punch April 22, 2021 23:26 UTC