The federal government has successfully resolved the passport printer crisis affecting the Nigerian consulates in Atlanta and New York, ensuring a smoother passport application process for Nigerians in the United States.
This was confirmed in a statement by Babatunde Alao, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The issue had drawn concerns from Nigerians in the diaspora, who had urged the Minister to take action and provide new printers to ease passport processing delays. In response, the government swiftly moved to address the problem, facilitating the delivery and installation of new passport printing machines.
According to the statement, the installation of the new printers is part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Interior to enhance passport services and implement ongoing reforms. These reforms include the establishment of the Abuja Passport Personalisation Centre and the expansion of contactless solutions to streamline applications in various regions.
“Following the directives of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in January 2025 to deliver new passport printers to consulates in New York and Atlanta, the machines have now been delivered and installed as of February 18, 2025,” the statement read.
The Minister emphasized that this development aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to improving the quality of services provided to Nigerians both at home and abroad.
“With these new printers, Nigerians in Atlanta and New York can expect a faster and more efficient passport application process,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
He further assured that the ministry remains dedicated to continuous innovation in service delivery, promising additional improvements to make passport applications more accessible and hassle-free for Nigerians across the world.