Controversies trail NIS on alleged cash crunch, bureaucracy, e-passport delays

In news reports the scarcity of passport booklets due to bureaucracy and purported cash crunch remains a challenge at Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS). It was learned yesterday that service providers to the NIS are owed billions with printed booklets stuck in warehouses over debts. Also, bureaucratic bottlenecks over the remittance of a share of revenues from passport issuance have become a major obstacle. The situation is threatening to derail reforms initiated by the Federal Government to ease the burden of e-passport issuance. It was also garnered that the booklets inventory has been exhausted. The e-passport reform is faced with bureaucratic challenges, especially with the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The TSA is said to have become inactive as officials are yet to address all stakeholder concerns regarding funds distribution challenges.