About 60,000 passports backlog has been cleared in four days out of over 200,000 pending passport applications.

The clearance is consequent upon the directives given to the immigration service by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to ensure clearance of all pending passport applications within two weeks.

Tunji-Ojo confirmed the clearance when the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Abuja.

Tunji-Ojo said he would clean up the passport crisis in the country.

“When we came on board, the passport crisis was an embarrassment to the country and we said there is no way it can continue.

“As at this morning, I can tell you that about 60,000 passport backlogs have been cleared specifically, 59,906.

“On September 6, when I gave the 2-week ultimatum, we had over 200,000 backlogs. However, we have recorded tremendous progress, and I still maintain my words, those backlogs must be cleared,” he said.

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The humanitarian affairs minister had earlier said that the visit was informed by the need for the two ministries to collaborate in reducing human trafficking.

The minister added that the collaboration would also include other related challenges such as the poor welfare for veterans, underemployment and poverty reduction.

Edu said that the interior ministry was in the best position to solve issues of human trafficking as it plays supervisory role on the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Responding, Tunji-Ojo said that the ministry welcomes such initiative as it was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.

The Star