The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has described as misleading claims making the round that it authorised a religious organization on passport-related payments and processing activities for Nigerians.
According to a statement signed by the Service Public Relations Officer, DCI Olusola Akinlabi, “Recent allegations suggesting that the name of a religious organization appears in the Service’s payment process are entirely false and do not reflect the structure, integrity, or processes of the NIS. A simple review of our authorized payment portal confirms the transparency and authenticity of our platform”, he said.
“Any third-party payment links or platforms purporting to process passport payments on behalf of the NIS are fraudulent and should be avoided at all costs”.
The statement added that, “NIS operates a secure, transparent, and government-approved passport application system, which is accessible exclusively through its official portal at http://passport.immigration.gov.ng . This remains the only authorized platform for all passport-related payments and processing activities for Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora”.
Insisting that, “At no time has the Service partnered with or authorized any religious organization, private entity, or individual to act as an intermediary or receiving account on its behalf”.
DCI Akinlabi also maintained that the Service has launched a serious investigation into the allegations with a view to uncover the source.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service has taken note of this purported allegation and is currently investigating the matter to uncover the sources of this false claim. Preliminary investigations suggest the involvement of a mischief-maker seeking to tarnish the reputation of the Service or mislead the public for ulterior motives. Appropriate action will be taken against any individuals or groups found culpable”.
The statement however issued a disclaimer that, “Payments made outside the official channels provided by the NIS are made at the owner’s sole risk, and the Service takes no responsibility for any loss or inconvenience arising from such transactions”.
SPRO therefore urged the “public to exercise caution, access our services only via the official portal, and avoid any dealings with unauthorized agents, websites, or third-party platforms. The Service does not recognize or provide any third-party payment alternatives for passport applications or related services”.