‘Immigration’II Go Fully Digital Soon’

A top Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Officer in Port Harcourt says the agency will go fully  digital soon in order to serve  the public better.
The officer, who spoke  on condition of anonymity in an exclusive chat with The Tide in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the reason for the planned  switch  to electronic  system  of service is to ensure  that the agency  is not left out in the 21st century  mode of business  transaction.
The officer  noted that the Nigerian  Immigration  is on ground to promote  quick  service  delivery, hence, the decision  to go digital.
According  to him, some of the delay in their  services to the public is due to the semi analogue  system  still  practised  in the agency.
Not exonerating the service of any form of challenge,  he stated that the paramilitary  outfit would do better upon full digitization of the organisation.
On the recent complaint by members of the public about the delay  in the Passport Unit, he said such was misconstrued because the personnel at the unit are doing their best.
He expressed  regrets that some persons will only raise alarm when they did not receive  the special treatment  they requested, and not praise them subsequently when  treated as demanded.
“What they do not  know  is that,  we cannot  please every person the same time. Some of them will come  with a near difficult work and want you to perform  the magic  almost immediately”, he said.
The  officer did not  state  how soon the digital operations  will commence,  but said that it may not exceed this year.
“It has to pass through due process, that is why we may have some delay. But internally,  we are prepared  to take up the new challenge. I think  we are equal to the task”, he said.
The Tide gathered that the Service  in Port Harcourt, especially  the Passport Unit,  is on ground  and is gradually removing  all bottlenecks  associated with the job.

By: King Onunwor