Mandatory Citizenship Proof Shakes Up Passport Renewal Process: NIS Clamps Down
In a bold move to tighten national security and identity verification, the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) has introduced stringent measures for passport renewal. Under the new policy, Nigerian citizens are required to provide incontrovertible proof of citizenship. This includes a National Identification Number (NIN), the old passport number, a birth certificate, and a local government certificate of indigeneship.
The NIS has staunchly defended this policy shift, asserting that these measures are in full alignment with the Nigerian constitution and have the backing of the Ministry of Interior. The rationale behind the policy is clear: to establish a verifiable link between the individual and their indigenous roots within Nigeria.
In a recent statement released on their official platform, the NIS elaborated on the necessity of the documentation, stating, “For your claim of being a Nigerian citizen to hold water, there has to be a document that ties you to a local government (indigenous area) within the country.”
This policy has sparked a wave of reactions across the nation, with citizens and expatriates alike scrambling to meet the new requirements. The NIS’s move is seen as a step towards a more secure and verified process of passport issuance, ensuring that every Nigerian passport holder is unequivocally tied to their heritage and homeland.
