The Disinformation/Misinformation amid Nigeria Online Passport Portal

Following the recent announcement by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on deploying an Online platform for passport application and renewal for Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, many Nigerians could not hide their excitement. This new development was introduced to solve the issues of tedious applications and the long wait to be verified before the passport is issued. For others, the long wait was not the main issue; it was about the alleged double charge for the official passport price by the officials if they wanted to get the passport in good time. 

As usual, the social media sphere became a hub for this conversation, as many users alleged that the new system announced by the NIS is not as effective as claimed, and there is still a long wait period and excessive charges when people go for their biometrics to be captured. The announcement also received positive reviews. Regardless, these opposing opinions have triggered some controversy as to the effectiveness of the new system, and such has inspired a desperate need for a deeper investigation into the actual situation with the new process. How effective is it? And has anything changed from the old process?

Finding answers, but first, a background 

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is the body of government solely charged with the duties of migration management in Nigeria, which includes issuing all Nigeria travel documents like the Nigeria Passports as it concerns this investigation. The NIS, just like every government MDAs has witnessed its series of changes and developments, starting from its emergence from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in 1958 to its current status as an agency under the Ministry of Interior. The Ministry of Interior oversees internal security matters, immigration, citizenship, and border control, with the NIS carrying out these responsibilities. In 1998, the NIS started integrating ICT into its operations, and one of the significant developments was the introduction of e-passports on May 17th, 2007, making Nigeria the first African country to do so.

Another significant technological development is the automation of the Nigerian Passport’s online process, which was released in January 2024 and announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. According to several reports from Vanguard, Business Day, the Guardian and other news outlets, the previous traditional process of getting a passport was considered burdensome and time-consuming. Often, it involved paying bribes to passport officials or middlemen who took advantage of the system to extort money from applicants. This was particularly true for those following the official application procedures, especially those living abroad who wanted to ensure timely delivery. Hence, the Ministry of Interior had taken to its X (formerly Twitter) page to say that this new automated development would eliminate the long wait periods, which many Nigerians believe include middle-players or touts exploiting applicants financially amongst other things.

Reacting to the X post by the NIS, many Nigerians showed excitement and relief given the new process. In contrast, others showed concerns about it being no different from the traditional approach, as they still have to go for biometrics capture after filling out their details online because of their limited office locations, which could still cause queues and the concern for inducing NIS staff financial or otherwise due to human contact. Meanwhile, others showed hopefulness and rendered prayers for the process to be efficient and sustainable. There were also concerns from those who cautioned about sensitizing the public on the online automation process, as many have groaned about their inability to comprehend some of the requirements on the website. For instance, an X user commented that they need help understanding what ICAO means and why it is essential for the passport application. The application process for the new automated online Passport application, as given by the NIS, can be found here for Nigerians within and here for those living outside the country.

Nonetheless, this positive development by the ministry has been accompanied by all sorts of reports and misleading opinions online, creating confusion and frustration for Nigerians seeking passports and other related services. While many have shared on social media that the process is now seamless and has no delays, several others have counteracted this experience, lamenting that they still struggle to get or renew their passports. Therefore, this investigation tackles the most common types of disinformation/misinformation surrounding the portal, explores their potential origins, and equips readers with first-hand information to confidently navigate the application process. 

The Common Misconceptions Identified

The announcement of the Nigerian online passport portal in January 2024 by the Minister of Interior generated a lot of reactions from Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, with the promise of a backlog being cleared and all that. As per this new development, Nigerians who couldn’t face the traditional hurdles and the money game started the application process on the new portal. I was one of these many Nigerians who decided to give the new process a trial. Still, before then, I took time to go through the internet for reviews and social media to see people’s experiences with the passport online portal process, and I came across a lot of information. While these pieces of information I obtained also consisted of uncheckable claims as they stem from people’s personal experiences and opinions concerning online applications, they still form a possible base from which disinformation and misinformation can be brewed and spread. 

In an article by Faster Capital, opinions, despite being subjective and unverifiable claims, can sometimes form the foundation for misleading information. This influence can shape people’s belief systems and knowledge about specific issues or events, even if the opinions are not based on factual evidence. Hence, this report addresses the common misconceptions surrounding the new application process for Nigerians registering for the first time in the country. These Misconceptions include the  following:

• Cost of Online Application: There have been diverse opinions circulating about the cost of the online application; while some have claimed extra fees for using the online portal compared to the traditional paper-based method, there were also posts like this Facebook post claiming that the cost is 35,000 for the passport of 5 years validity, however, with bank charges, it summed up to 36,500, others also spoke about hidden fees, especially after getting to any Immigration office to capture, as in this video. 

The stipulated cost for a passport application on the online portal differs depending on the number of passport pages. A 32-page passport valid for 5 years costs 35,000 as stipulated on NIS online portal, while a 64-page passport valid for 10 years costs 70,000. However, remember that there are online charges for the payment gateway, which cost around 1400-3000.

Update Column

However, the Nigeria Immigration Service, with the approval of the Federal Government, recently announced in a statement released on August 21st that from 1st September 2024, the cost (35,000) of a 32-paged passport booklet will be N50,000, while the 64-paged passport booklet with 10-year validity, which is N70,000 now, will be N100,000. According to the press release, these fees remain unchanged for Nigerians in the Diaspora.

• Eligibility for Online Application: Reading some replies to some of these Facebook group posts, I found a lot of conflicting opinions about who can utilize the online service, e.g., whether it is for only new passports or not renewals. However, the Immigration online portal clearly states that it is for fresh applications, renewals, and much more. Further, applicants must be Nigerian citizens by birth, naturalization or registration. Read more here.

Figure 4: Screenshot of Passport Application Services on the online portal 

• Fake Websites and Social Accounts: Following the new online application process, some scammers and fraudsters have created websites, as claimed here, as well as social media accounts to mimic the NIS portal to extort money and steal personal information and potential financial details. For instance, NIS took to its Instagram account to share a screenshot of a fake social account impersonating the institution and urged that members of the public disregard any information that doesn’t emanate from its Twitter and Instagram accounts @nigimmigration on both platforms). Before submitting personal information on any passport application website, check the domain name on the browser, to be sure you are on the official website. For social accounts, check the Immigration website for social handles to follow. According to the announcement by NIS, the official website for this online application is the passport.immigration.gov.ng

• Processing Times and Success Rates: Another Instagram post with similar content that generated over 500 comments and 15.9k likes as at the time of this reporting showed some Nigerians sharing their experience with the application process time and success rate. Some noted that the new online application process is indeed easy and fast. Others shared that even after getting a capturing appointment date and getting to the NIS office, they were made to feel like they committed an offence for taking the online route. Meanwhile, others who claimed to have begun the process following the NIS announcement were still waiting to get their passport after being captured. Notwithstanding, most persons who indicated they were successful claimed they got theirs in 2 to 21 days. Furthermore, A viral post on Twitter has said that the tracking feature of the passport application is merely a formality, that it will remain in “processing”, and that the office does not notify. Pst. Okezie, the X user, further stated that people should check at the office they captured to see if their passport is ready 21 days after capturing to be sure it is ready or not. From my experience, I met a lady who claimed to have visited the office more than twice, but her passport still wasn’t prepared—and she had to pay someone to “fast track” the process because she needed it urgently to register for something.

However, the NIS website has recommended using the tracking application option or for a Passport pick-up notification (via SMS); it is safe to say there isn’t any harm in going to confirm after 3 to 6 weeks of waiting, as was my case in which I found out it was issued at the office about two weeks ago, as the tracking kept showing “processing.” 

• The Issue of Guarantor Form: Some Nigerians have taken to Facebook here to lament their frustration about the online application process and the inability to obtain a guarantor form. Meanwhile, Tera Mayo, who has gone through the process, stated in a post that the Guarantor’s form is no longer needed. For Nigerians below 16 years of age.  NIS online portal on learn more page did not mention of a guarantor letter, but there is a consent letter, which is seen only as part of the requirements for minors.

Figure 7: Requirements for Fresh Passport Publication by Immigration

Sources of these Misconceptions

These above-discussed misconceptions were mainly sourced from posts shared on how to navigate this online process on various social media platforms, such as:

Instagram: Sources here included reels and video content concerning using the immigration online portal for passport application, as discussed above, which were shared with the comment engagement on each post. The majority of the misconceptions that brewed here were found in the comment sections by Instagram users within and outside Nigeria. Who shared their experience of both the traditional and new online application process.

Facebook: Sources here included posts shared and replies from Facebook groups with Nigerian passport applications. This platform’s content includes videos and text-based content concerning the passport application process. However, it was noticed that these Facebook posts did not garner as many comments and engagement as Instagram posts.

X (formerly Twitter): most of these posts found on Instagram and Facebook were also seen to make the rounds on X as well. However, similar to Facebook, they had less engagement at the time of this reporting than Instagram. Additionally,  the nature of content related to this online application was also in the form of video and text-based content.

One common attribute of all sources identified is that the posts were easily accessible given the search of some common hashtags #passport #passportapplication #nigerianpassport #nigeriapassport. #onlinepassoportapplication 

Things you need for the Online Application

For fresh passport application, the required documents needed to be scanned and uploaded online include:

1. National Identity Number (NIN)
2. Have a passport photograph that meets ICAO standards. To be sure your passport meets ICAO standards, users can pre-test the passport photograph here.
3. Other supporting documents such as the Birth Certificate, Local Government Certificate of Origin, marriage certificate and consent letter, where applicable

Things you need to go with for Capturing Appointment

1. Adult (18 years and above)

• Completed passport application form from the online procedure
• Payment slip or Evidence of Payment and appointment slip from online application

1. Minor (under 18 years of age)

• The completed passport application form is attached, along with one passport-sized photograph of the minor to be endorsed on the reverse side by the consenting parent(s).
• Evidence of Nigerian citizenship of parent(s).
• Birth certificate (certificate must be issued by the National Population Commission for minors born within Nigeria).
• Letter of consent from either parent.
• Acknowledgement Slip and Evidence of Payment.

Note: Court Order and Letter of Approval from State Ministry of Women and Child Development (This Requirement is strictly for adopted children).

Conclusion and Recommendation

The online passport portal has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and accessibility of passport applications in Nigeria. However, combating misinformation and disinformation is crucial to ensure a smooth user experience. Some suggestions on how to better improve the efficiency of this online portal and curtail disinformation and minsinformation as well as financial extortion include but are not limited to:

Express/Fast-Track Channel: An Express channel option with an extra fee should be made available for applicants looking to obtain their passports quicker due to emergencies, school registration, or other reasons. This will generate extra income for the institution while increasing its ability to meet dire, urgent demands. It will also curtail the money game played by impatient applicants who pay officials for fast passport processing. 

Media Literacy Campaign: With more online and traditional media campaigns, Nigerians can better understand and navigate the application process confidently, thus contributing to the success of this positive initiative and dispelling common misconceptions.

Collaboration: Collaboration with Cyber Cafe centres and other grassroots stakeholders online and offline can be crucial for identifying and removing misinformation. This will also better direct those who can’t navigate the online platform themselves to a verified help channel.

Social Media Monitoring: Continued monitoring of online conversations surrounding the passport application process can help identify and address emerging misinformation trends.

References

Abeku, T. (2023). How corruption, racketeering hobble FG’s passport policy, application process. The Guardian. https://guardian.ng/features/how-corruption-racketeering-hobble-fgs-passport-policy-application-process/

Apanpa, O. (2024). Automation of passport application begins January 8 -Minister. Punch Newspaper https://punchng.com/automation-of-passport-application-begins-january-8-minister/

Fast Capital, (2024) Opinion Formation: Unraveling the Factors Behind Beliefs. https://fastercapital.com/content/Opinion-Formation–Unraveling-the-Factors-Behind-Beliefs.html

Igbinadolor, N. (2022). How corrupt, tardy process prolongs passport pickup. Business Day. https://businessday.ng/big-read/article/how-corrupt-tardy-process-prolongs-passport-pickup/ 

Nigeria Immigration Services. (2024). NIS History. https://immigration.gov.ng/home-2/nis-history/#:~:text=In%20attempt%20to%20improve%20on,first%20country%20in%20Africa%20to