Kunle Adelabu
-May start operations first week of September
-Adeboruwa, Council Chair thank facilitators, community
The new Passport Office of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), will commence operations soon, as the collaboration between the government and Igbogbo community has ensured that necessary facilities are in place for the smooth operations, regarding full capturing and production of passports.
It was gathered that the initial idea was just to use the place as capturing centre while production of passports will be done outside the Igbogbo community, which may take many weeks, but it was changed to full operations with the intervention and the readiness of the Igbogbo community to partner the NIS.
THE IMPACT had reported early July, that the Igbogbo community will be partnering with the government, on the completion and functionality of the office which was facilitated and started in 2019, but was abandoned after completion until recently when the Vice Chairman of the Igbogbo Day Committee, Alhaji Sheriff Junaid, met the Assistant Controller General, NIS, a situation that presented an opportunity for the community to call attention to the Passport Office. Fortunately, the policy of the new Controller General is to ensure that passport offices are closer to Nigerians.
It was gathered that the NIS has posted staff to the Igbogbo Passport office, and are only waiting for the completion of work at the office, to start operations.
Our reporter was at the office last weekend to access the work. The main building which comprises about eight rooms, will host the office of the approving authority, his second – in – command, enrolment office, production room, issuance room, while there are about three offices for the NIS staff, as well as toilet facilities. Furniture and Air Conditioners have been provided in all the offices too.
There is also a security house with toilet facilities for applicants waiting for a call – up outside, which was built by the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA.The applicants’ waiting shield has also been completed with iron chairs.
According to the stakeholders in the project, the target for the commencement of the operations is either the end of August or first week of September.
Meanwhile, His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, has expressed his happiness at the intervention and cooperation of the Igbogbo community with the NIS, for the completion of the passport office.
The royal father also specially thanked the representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Rep. Babajimi Benson and Mr Samson Ogunjinmi, Director of Finance and Account, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and other stakeholders in Ikorodu Division.
“On behalf of myself and the entire Igbogbo Kingdom, I express our profound appreciation to our representative, Hon. Babajimi Benson, for his role in the facilitation and completion of the passport office. We are grateful for what he has been doing for Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA in terms of infrastructural and human developments. In the same vein, we are equally appreciative of the efforts of Mr Samson Ogunjimi, Director of Finance and Account, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, in this regard too”, Oba Kasali said
“What they have facilitated will not only benefit Igbogbo and Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, but the entire Ikorodu Division, Lagos East and the state in general, and we are grateful and thankful for their efforts.
“I appreciate the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi, and entire royal fathers in the Ikorodu Division, for their support. Also, I want to specially thank the chieftains of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Sen. Adeseye Ogunleye, Sir (Prince) Abiodun Ogunleye and the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, for their support and roles played in the development of the passport office. We are grateful to them.
“I am also full of thanks to sons and daughters of Igbogbo, and in actual fact, the entire community, for rising up to the occasion. I called on the people and challenged them to rededicate themselves to the service and development of the community and they gave a resounding positive response. This is the only way that we can build our community together.
“It is also of note that I must commend the response and intervention of the Igbogbo Development Association (IDEA), for leading the charge on community intervention. The Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA also did very well for responding to our call and rising up to the occasion. I appreciate them for ensuring that their roles in ensuring that the passport office is going to be operational soon. The Council Chairman, personally got involved, and I commend him for that. Likewise, I thank the Igbogbo youths and others.
“Of note is the family that donated the land for the purpose. My special appreciation to them. I learnt that the land in question was meant for market development in that axis, but they listened to us when we requested for the land for developmental use for the community. They have expressed their commitment and love for Igbogbo in a very clear term with the donation of the land”, Oba Kasali said.
The Executive Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Builder Sesan Daini, speaking on the efforts towards the completion of the passport office, said that the council and the community have been cooperating with the federal government to ensure that the facility is operational soon.
He added that when fully operational, the passport office will contribute significantly to the development of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Ikorodu Division, Lagos East and the state in general.
“It has been a collaborative effort among the Federal Government, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and the Igbogbo community. The local government has been in partnership with the Igbogbo Development Association (IDEA), with the supervision of the Kabiyesi (Adeboruwa of Igbogbo). The council built the security post with toilets for applicants’ use at the passport office”, Builder Daini said.
“The shelter for the applicants was built by IDEA. 10 ACs were needed and the council provided some. The palace also provided the generator which the facility will be using for the time being.
“So, it had been a collaborative effort between the council, Igbogbo Development Association, the Kabiyesi and the Adeboruwa in Council, and we are not stopping at that. We are ready to do more and ensure that the passport office commences operation as soon as possible.
“We are in need of the facility, because we know that it would add value to us as the host community – Igbogbo Kingdom, Ikorodu Division, Lagos East Senatorial District and Lagos State at large.
“The citing of the passport office in Igbogbo, would help revive the economy and many businesses and sustain existing ones. It would also give the Kingdom and entire Ikorodu Division more national recognition in terms of infrastructures, security and other facilities that are needed to make a city.
“We are happy that we have it. It’s something that we are going to protect jealously and we will ensure that its staff and applicants that would be coming from all over the country, have an enabling environment. Once again, the council is willing and ready to provide further support to the Immigration at the passport office and make it fully operational”, the Council Chairman said.
Builder Daini, like the Adeboruwa, was also full of commendations for Rep. Babajimi Benson for his role in facilitating the facility, and all that he has been doing for the people of Igbogbo.
“We need to appreciate Hon. Babajimi Benson for his involvement and his commitment towards the job and by directly linking us to the Comptroller General and other government contacts to make this work. He has played a major role. We thank and appreciate him and we cannot thank him enough. He has really done well for our kingdom and the Division. Hon. Babajimi Benson is a pride to the state”, the Council boss said.
