The Federal Government says it is taking decisive action to combat identity theft, according to Interior Minister, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Speaking during a recent meeting with European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, the government aims to streamline the international passport application and ultimately restore the Nigerian passport’s prestige and integrity.
The EU Ambassador pledged support in managing illegal migration, human trafficking, and smuggling. This move comes as theft and the trade in counterfeit passports has become a global menace. INTERPOL maintains a database of over 40 million lost and stolen travel documents from 157 countries, which is accessible to governments, airlines, hotels, and the public.
In September 2020, the Nigeria Immigration Service successfully uploaded 150,000 stolen and lost travel documents to the INTERPOL Global System in Lyon, France, with support from various international agencies, including the United States National Central Bureau.
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