Following the unveiling of 64 page e-passport by President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, told journalists the reasons for the new policy and the gains it will bring to the government and its citizens. Moro in the interview also revealed why the federal government will not close the country’s borders over the dreaded Ebola virus. Tobias Lengnan Dapam was there. Excerpt:
Minister Sir, can you tell us the essence of this new e-passport?
On Wednesday, the 30th of July, 2014, Mr. President graciously launched the 64 page e-passport and as I said the other day, the 64 page e-Passport that was introduced, is demand driven and is against the backdrop that Nigerians, especially frequent travelers mandated the service and the Ministry of Interior for enhanced passports because it became obvious from experience that Nigerian frequent travelers especially businessmen, easily exhausted their 32 page passport. Also, diplomats, traders and professionals were battling with difficulties of having to travel with up to four booklets of Nigerian Passport because they are frequent travelers and move around easily, they virtually exhaust their passports within months, some in a year if they had to travel with a passport that contains a ten year UK visa and they exhaust such passports within months, it means they have to add the new passport to the old passports that came with their visas. That is why you find Nigerians in airports carrying three, four passport booklets which is cumbersome, sometimes becomes even suspicious and this informed the introduction of new 64 page e-passport booklet, the derivable benefits are very obvious:
One, it will save the individual traveler the cumbersome problem of having to carry bulk booklets of passports. And again, it enhances the capacity of the Nigerian economy. It adds value to the Nigerian economy. These frequent travelers, professionals, businessmen are obviously ambassadors of Nigeria that interact with their counterparts in other countries and they easily make contacts and attract foreign direct investments to Nigeria. In addition to that, the differential pages of our passports also comes with a difference, the current 64-page e-Passport cost N20,000 to procure or the equivalent of N20,000 in foreign currency and this in a way has increased the revenue that goes into government purse through processing of our passports. This adds to the economy of Nigeria and is a direct transaction, the monies that are realized from the passports are paid directly into the federation account and it is very transparent. Much more, the current 64-page e-Passport that is being introduced into the Nigerian scene adds a lot of value to the credibility and integrity of the Nigerian travel documents. It would in the interim and in the long run prevent the obvious abuses of forgery of the Nigerian Passport and so adds a lot of value in terms of integrity to the travel documents of Nigeria. You will recall that Mr. President had bemoaned the practice of several tendencies that undermine the integrity and credibility of our passport and had actually urged the Nigerian Immigration Service to improve very seriously on their attitudes and processing of our travel documents. For this reason, the newly introduced 64-page e-Passport has enhanced security features embedded in them and so this definitely save us the possibility of identity theft because there is this possibility that people steal people’s passports and insert their own photographs into the passport and sometimes, go scot-free and travel under false identity. But here, the chip and the antenna that are embedded in the current 64-page e-passport is specifically made for this project and specifically made for Nigeria and so that prevents the possibility of duplication or forgery of any passport.
Some Nigerians believe that the new passport is introduced as part of measures to tackle current insecurity in the country, truly, how effective is this passport going to help to tame terrorism?
Well, let me say that it is not completely correct that the new e-Passport was introduced because of the current insecurity in the country but just like the consciousness of Nigerians, and the determination of the Federal Government to ensure full proof across our borders to forestall the possibility of admitting undesirable elements into the country. The introduction of the 64-page e-Passport is an addition to other security measures that have been taken by the present administration but it’s a fast thing to say that at this point, that the 64-page e-Passport is one, demand driven, people want it because of the easy way they can travel. But most specifically, it is targeted at specific groups, it is intended for frequent travelers that are made up of businessmen, traders, professionals and diplomats, though it is not an ordinary paper that anybody can work into the internet service and pick up, it is the responsibility of the Nigerian Immigration Service and I am sure that NIS is equal to the task in identifying those who cannot posses these documents, because there will be no point in issuing a 64-page e-passport to an applicant that has a 32-page e-Passport that has not been used for a year or two. Such persons do not deserve to have the 64-page e-Passport. The Nigerian Immigration Service have a database from which they can easily determine frequent travelers and a traveler that deserve to own the 64-page e-passport that are in circulation now. So, essentially therefore, I want to say that the introduction of the new passport will add value to our security consciousness and to the preventive measures that are being put in place by government.
It is observed that this document may get damaged easily, it is evident in our SIM cards and our ATM cards, so in case of damage, will the person be issued another passport?
Let me say, that the production process of our passport booklets is different from your ATM cards and other cards that you are talking about. It is a special production process that put into consideration the special nature of passports. The practice is that if for any reason, a passport is damaged just like a passport is lost, an applicant upon proven evidence that the travel document is no longer genuine or authentic, certainly will apply and be issued a new passport, the Nigerian Immigration Service has a process to verify the authenticity of claims, damage or loss of passport.
There was this almost near rowdy session so to speak at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Immigration Service, after government lunched the new passport, because many Nigerian passport holders don’t seem to be aware of the change or even the hike in the price, what is the ministry and the service doing to bring this enlightenment to most Nigerians?
If there was any rowdy situation at the Nigerian Immigration Service, that I am not aware of, it will not necessarily be as a result of the introduction or change of price or introduction of a new passport booklets, the process of introduction of this 64-page e-Passport has been on for almost a year and the change in price of our travel documents occasioned by global trends in frequent review of cost of travel documents as approved for the Nigerian Immigration Service for almost a year now. It is part of the general reform process that we introduced in the Ministry for all the parastatals in the ministry and of course, the Immigration Service happens to be first MDA now that has come up with this official and public launching of this initiative and so the Nigerian Immigration Service has since its Present Comptroller, David Parradang assumed office, been pushing for series of reforms that we had approved. Part of the reforms which we approved and for the first time in the history of this country is the reform in terms of who pays what for passport, a day old child desirous of possessing a Nigerian Passport is entitled to the Nigerian Passport. Between you and I, we know that a day-old child doesn’t earn income, so it became imperative that if we have to provide some level of succor for some categories of Nigerians desiring to possess our passport, certain levels of categorization will be made, I think that was what happened.
There was a report trending recently that we need your confirmation, how true is it that with the new passport, one can go to some countries without visa, is it that he will get a visa upon arriving the country?
That again is not completely correct; the possession of the 64-page e-Passport does not guarantee free traveling by the holders, though Nigeria has entered into Visa waiver arrangements with other countries. For instance; China, Brazil, Rwanda and other countries that we have understanding with, graded passport holders from Nigeria can travel to those countries and intending with the principle, graded passport holders of such other countries travel to Nigeria without necessarily having passport too, graded travel documents falls in the category of official passport, diplomatic passports.
What are the arrangements put in place to ensure that there is enough production materials for that passport, because as time goes on, there may be scarcity of the passport materials.
Let me say categorically here, that we have never had shortage of passport booklets in this country and we will not have. We also have agreement on sufficient numbers for the current 64-page e-Passport with our service provider, Arish Technology and is part of an existing contract to the production of Nigerian Passports and it is not as if a completely new arrangement have been put in place in line with the technical ordinance like many countries have now, a 32-Page passport that has common features and common standard. I can also announce and that is the opportunity, the window that we have ceased now for the production of the 64 page version for countries that desire to travel with such enhanced passports, so the features, the production process and everything that are involved in the current production of the 64 page e-passport, and also what is obtainable in the production of the 32- page e-Passport, what has slightly changed, is the advancement in technology. It has warranted the new technical items to just avoid identity theft, the production process is seamless and there is every assurance that there will be no scarcity of passport booklets in Nigeria or in the Diaspora.
Sir, you are the minister in charge of immigration that sees to borders, we want to know what your ministry is doing to ensure that the carrier of Ebola dreaded disease are not allowed to come into Nigeria?
Well, it’s unfortunate that what we felt would never be in Nigeria, has come to Nigeria, but I think the good news is that since the death of Patrick Sawyer from Liberia, on the account of Ebola virus, no other reported case has occurred and we are praying very fervently that by the expiration of the period of incubation which has been put between one week and three weeks that no such cases will be heard. I want to also say that in line with each proactive attitude to issues of emergencies like this, the Federal Government has put in place a presidential committee to address the issue of Ebola occurrence in Nigeria and I am happy to inform you that the Ministry of Interior is part of the Presidential committee. We have been having meetings frequently to update ourselves on decisions that have been taken and one of the decision that was taken in the committee is that screening centres be established at our various Ports of entry including our land entry points. Already, health officials have been drafted to some of our ports of entry and the Nigerian Immigration Service have directed its officers at the borders to ensure proper screening. The whole attitude is to have a multi-sectoral approach to the issue of Ebola in Nigeria and so the Nigerian Immigration Service is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and officials of the World Health Organisation, which we believe hopefully, that our efforts should be able to prevent further spread of this disease.
Sir, is the government contemplating the closure of the country’s borders as part of checks?
An isolated incident of the death of Patrick Sawyer on account of Ebola is not sufficient for this country to close its borders. Closure of borders is an extreme situation that has its own wide range consequences and so unless it becomes absolutely necessary, we don’t intend to close our borders as long as information comes to us indicates that Nigerian Medical workers and Nigerian Immigration Service and all other Health officials are striving to contend the situation, no need to close our borders.
Earlier, you said we may not have the expertise to complete screening of people coming in, don’t you see this as a loophole in the whole system that somebody who has the virus can easily come into the country?
When I said that the Nigerian Immigration Service does not have the capacity to screen Ebola virus carriers, I did not say that the Ministry of Health does not have the capacity to carry out the screening and the Nigerian Immigration Service doesn’t have the capacity because it’s not their training, but the Nigerian Immigration Service and all other Nigerians and especially agencies that are involved in the screening exercise are being sensitize and educated on what to do in the circumstances in collaboration of Ministry of Health officials are tackling the issue of possible spread of the disease.
Are we likely to introduce certificate to travelers coming into Nigeria against Ebola?
There is a universal approach incidence. Let’s be aware that Ebola still defiles some level of definition. Symptoms have been identified, cures have not been identified, even vaccines have not been identified and so in the circumstances therefore, Nigeria as a global player in some circumstances would not be able to take action in a unilateral action in introducing certification because if you must introduce certification, it means that you must know what you are out for. You must know the implication of applying it. So, I think that the issue of certification will only come when everything about Ebola have been examined vaccines identified for its eradication.
