Nigerians no longer have to travel to the immigration office to obtain their passports, as home delivery of passports is set to begin in June.

This development was announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday when he inspected the electronic gates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport’s new terminal in Abuja.

Tunji-Ojo said the delivery will not include every location to avoid overloading and damaging the system.

He said the Nigerian Immigration Service would start home delivery in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Abuja.

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He stated that for Nigerians in the diaspora, the home DELIVERY service would initially launch in the United States and the United Kingdom, with preliminary testing to ensure its effectiveness.

The minister explained that the delay in implementing home delivery was due to a lack of data centres.

He noted that the NIS had been relying on a private company’s data centre and emphasised the need for a permanent solution to this problem.

“We have completed the whole solution but when we came on board, we realised that the data centre was not really there. We were leveraging on a private company data centre and we appreciate them for that assistance. We think that it is better to create a permanent solution to problems rather than quick fixes.

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“We could have done it in February but we had to build our data centre from scratch to be able to keep the integrity of our data and national security intact. This is more important. It is disgraceful that NIS is 61 years old and NIS is a custodian of biometric data of Nigeria and we believe that NIS should be in charge of the data of Nigeria.

“It is not acceptable that this data is domiciled in a third party and that is why we have been able to do this,” he said.

H added that the data centre has been constructed and the passport delivery issue has been resolved.

“It is about national security and I can assure you that It is comparable with anyone you can find anywhere in the world.

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“We have built the data centre, sorted the passport delivery solution and done the final presentation in terms of technology deliverables and the tracking solution which will all be embedded in the application we have so we do not create multiple lines of failure,” the minister said.

Speaking further, the minister stated that the final presentation of the electronic visa has been completed.

He added that it will reduce the visa processing time from 72 hours to 48 hours.

“The passport automation process is almost complete,” he added.

This announcement comes nine months after the minister initially declared that home delivery of passports to Nigerians would commence by February 2024.

In October, Tunji-Ojo stated that starting in February 2024, Nigerians would be able to have their passports delivered to their homes, offices, or any other location of their choice.

Security agencies in Kano State have promised to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order as the safety and security of all the residents in the state remain sacrosanct.

The state Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, made this known while addressing a joint security press conference at the command’s headquarters in Bompai Kano on Saturday.

He also said security agencies will enforce the court order restraining the state government from dissolving five newly created Emirates in the state.

“The police command is expressly obeying the court order with Suit No: FHC/KN/CS/182/2024 dated May 23, 2024, issued by the Federal High Court sitting in Kano alongside all law enforcement agents in the state.

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“Therefore, we are calling on members of the public to know that the police in the state are working together with the military and other security agencies and are at full capacity for providing adequate security to everyone as we are committed to carrying out our statutory duties as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“No doubt, the law-abiding people of Kano State are known for a revered cultural heritage and respect for constituted authorities and in this regard, advised to remain calm, patient, and to keep cooperating with security agencies as the matter described will be addressed by the court on the 3rd of June 2024,” Gumel said.

He stated that the position of the law is clear, saying that whoever under whatever guise is found to be planning to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the state or feels that he/she can jeopardise the existing security settings in the state will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

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“Therefore, as the police command is leading other security agencies to sustain the peace and peaceful coexistence for overriding interests, miscreants should stay clear of violence in all its ramifications and should not take advantage or hijack the current situation to launch an unprovoked attack on people, property and infrastructure of the State.

“Any person found with such tendency will be ruthlessly dealt with according to the law of the land.

“On this note, it is on behalf of all the security agencies, I thank all the good people of the state for their understanding, prayers, continuous support, and cooperation,” he concluded.

A deployment of soldiers has arrived at the mini-palace of Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero following his dethronement by Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf on Thursday, DailyTrust reports.

Yusuf, while signing the repealed Kano Emirates Council Law, gave the deposed Emirs 48 hours to vacate their palaces and hand them over.

According to Daily Trust, the other Emirs—Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero (Bichi), Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad Inuwa (Rano), Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar II (Karaye), and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir (Gaya)—complied with the directive.

However, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero returned to Kano on Saturday.

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His aircraft landed at the Aminu Kano International Airport at 4:30 am, where he was immediately greeted by supporters chanting a verse from Surah Al-Fatihah in the Holy Quran.

They chanted, “You (alone) we worship, and you (alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).”

While some others were saying, “God the Almighty will kill your enemies.”

He later observed Subhi (dawn prayer) at the airport before proceeding to the mini-palace in Nassarawa.

Reacting to Ado Bayero’s actions, Yusuf ordered his immediate arrest, accusing him of creating tension in the state.

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Yusuf, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, claimed that Ado Bayero was smuggled into Kano in an attempt to return to the palace two days after his deposition forcefully.

It was observed that a team of soldiers moved into his palace at Nasarawa, where the 15th Emir is located, following the governor’s order.

Although security operatives accompanied Ado Bayero from the airport to the mini-palace, the reason for the additional troop deployment remains unclear.

The Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, accused the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of facilitating the return of the dethroned Emir.

Gwarzo made the accusation in a short video interview at the Emir’s palace in Gidan Rumfa on Saturday.

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He alleged that the NSA released two jets to bring Ado Bayero to Kano

He said, “The National Security Adviser gave two jets to bring the dethroned emir to Kano and to bring him to the place. We have not understood their intention.”

Earlier, Yusuf ordered the immediate arrest of Ado Bayero.

He said Bayero should be arrested for allegedly creating tension in the state.

The statement titled ‘Gov. Yusuf Orders Arrest of Deposed Emir of Kano Aminu Ado Bayero,’ read, “The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has ordered the immediate arrest of the former Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, for creating tension in the state.”