Travel News

by Idris Shehu

The federal government has unveiled the express passport processing centre of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The centre, dubbed the “premium passport processing centre”, is expected to cater to Nigerians seeking to obtain their passports within a maximum of 72 hours.

At the unveiling of the centre in Abuja on Tuesday, Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, said the facility is the first of its kind, adding that other centres will be open across the country.

He also categorised the offers available, stating that the speed of the passport processing is based on the option selected.

“It is a first of many more to be established and designed to offer specialised services to Nigerians,” Aregbesola said.

“Every Nigerian has the right to a Nigerian passport and it is our responsibility to put it in the hands of anyone desirous of it within the shortest possible time, without stress. The passport should be available in a maximum 72 hours of a successful application.

“Where there are issues, the applicant must be notified within 48 hours. It will also afford Nigerians the opportunity of getting their passports within 24 hours, at the high premium service and 72 hours at the ordinary premium service, albeit with added value and a little bit of extra cost.

“A centre like this is necessary to reduce stress. Secondly, by minimising human contact, it eliminates the prospect of corruption.

“The commencement of the operations of this world-class facility will offer Nigerians services of convenience and pleasure by taking away the hitherto stress in the conventional passport offices.”

On his part, Muhammed Babandede, NIS comptroller-general, promised that the centre will offer “effective and efficient passport services to applicants”.

As a lack of spaces in Nigerian higher education leaves the majority of college entrance exam takers without a place in higher education, budget conscious would-be international students are becoming more interested in alternative destinations outside of the “Big Five” study destinations.

About Callan Quinn Callan first began her media career in China with the expat magazine City Weekend. After travelling around Australia and New Zealand, she went on to launch an NGO-focused magazine in Somaliland and later worked as a freelance editor for China Daily. She has also lectured at Frantz Fanon University and Tianjin Polytechnic on academic English and cross-cultural communication. Get in touch with Callan at [email protected]

"You can't study in the US or the UK with $2,000. However, there's an opportunity for you to study in Lithuania or Poland"

According to figures from Campus France’s Chiffres Cles 2021 report, Nigeria saw 76,338 students head abroad to study in 2018, a drop of 11% which the report attributed to the drop in oil prices, the depreciation of the local currency and the lack of international purchasing power among the Nigerian middle class.

The 2020 edition of the report did suggest that this had led to some reconsideration of study destinations. Between 2012 and 2017, the UK saw at 27% drop in international students from Nigeria. However, in the same year “just under one in four mobile Nigerian students chose another country of Sub-Saharan Africa as their study destination”, including Ghana and Benin.

“We have Canada really emerging strongly [as well as] Malaysia and South Africa. I also think China is one country we should all watch out for because we’ve seen an increase in the number of students headed to China in the last two years based on lots of scholarships being available for them,” explained Folashade Adebayo, senior education adviser at the US Embassy Abuja, Nigeria, in a recent PIE Live webinar.

“We’ve seen an increase in the number of students headed to China in the last two years”

“[In the US] we’ve seen an increase in students and parents interested in historically black colleges. A lot of people are really looking at affordability so HBCU schools are coming into the limelight. And a lot of students are pursuing that option just because of scholarship opportunities.”

Other stakeholders are starting to take a tech-based approach. The MyStudyPath platform, for example, has been launched by Imperial Education Services to help students find study abroad opportunities and connect with institutions online within their budget.

“There’s something in our company we call the three Cs,” explained Lanre Ogundipe, and education consultant at IES.

“The three Cs are basically the three major considerations that Nigerian students consider before they make a journey abroad: the cost of the education, the course of study and the country.

“Sometimes we get enquiries from students who want to study in the UK, and we ask them what’s their budget and they tell you $2,000,” he continued.

“So you have let them understand that I’m sorry but you can’t study in the US or the UK with $2,000. However, there’s an opportunity for you to study in Lithuania or Poland.”

Yet while there may have been some reluctance in the past to stray from the traditional study destinations, Laveen Melwani, senior recruitment manager and Africa education expert at the EU Business School, has also seen growing acceptance of new destinations – including Spain, Germany and Switzerland – and predicted it will continue.

“We see a phenomenal growth of students looking outside the traditional spaces for education as well because of the opportunities that are there in these places in terms of careers and cultural exchange programs,” he added.

On the flip side, others argue that the pent up demand for higher education in Nigeria also presents an opportunity to build up capacity in-country through private institutions and TNE programs.

“What we are seeing in Africa is that private education has a lot of opportunities. There is a very high demand for higher education,” said Laura Kakon, chief growth and strategy officer at the pan-African Honoris United Universities.

“There is a growing need to partner the public sector and private sector in order to increase access to quality education across the continent.”

By Wole Oyebade

•Foreign airlines rally behind controversial rapid antigen test

The suspension of Emirates Airlines and Etihad’s withdrawal from Nigerian airspace has cost the country, at least, a 20 per cent decline in international passenger traffic.

The Guardian learned that the decline was a major setback for air travel’s gradual recovery that earlier climbed to 45 per cent of pre-COVID-19 traffic.

Meanwhile, foreign airlines have rallied behind the controversial rapid antigen tests as a better alternative to the popular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test standard for COVID-19. To that effect, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged governments to accept best-in-class rapid antigen tests following the publication of new research findings.

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The Federal Government lately suspended the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) national carrier, Emirates, over the arbitrary imposition of rapid antigen testing on Nigerian travellers to UAE, and refusal to reverse the order.

From findings, Emirates and Dubai Airport authorities took the extra safety measures following cases of fake COVID-19 PCR test results coming from Nigeria, among others, in the wake of a spike in COVID-19 cases in the UAE. Similarly, Etihad voluntarily withdrew services from Nigeria though quietly.

Chairman of the Airline Passenger Joint Committee (APJC), Bankole Bernard, yesterday said the withdrawal of the UAE airlines was unfortunate, with a significant impact on passenger traffic.

Bernard, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Finchglow Travels, said the market’s erstwhile recovery of 45 per cent had in the last two weeks slumped to 15 per cent following the withdrawal of both Emirates and Etihad.

“That is so because Nigerians are not allowed into the UAE. Besides frequencies to Dubai, Nigerians had often connected other parts of the world through Dubai given their effective connectivity, which other destinations and airlines don’t have. So, the withdrawal of Emirates and Etihad is a big loss for all,” he said.

Bernard added that the UAE authorities were not to blame for the additional rapid antigen test controversy.

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“They (UAE) value lives ahead of money. They value every life in their country, unlike us here. They found the impact of fake COVID-19 test results too huge to handle and found themselves caught in-between.

“Unfortunately, we (Nigeria) didn’t even see the fake results as a big deal, to warrant investigation and prosecution. Etihad withdrew, we didn’t even see the need to find out why and see how to work together to resolve the problem. It is a shame,” Bernard said.

But the OXERA-Edge Health report, commissioned by IATA, has found that antigen tests to be most effective. From findings, the best antigen tests provide broadly comparable results to PCR tests in accurately identifying infected travellers. The BinaxNOW antigen test, for example, misses just one positive case in 1000 travellers (based on an infection rate of one per cent among travellers). And it has similarly comparable performance to PCR tests in levels of false negatives.

In terms of convenience, processing times for antigen tests are 100 times faster than for PCR testing. Cost-efficient: antigen tests are, on average, 60 per cent cheaper than PCR tests.

IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac, said restarting international aviation would energise the economic recovery from COVID-19.

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“Along with vaccines, testing will play a critical role in giving governments the confidence to re-open their borders to travellers. For governments, the top priority is accuracy. But travellers will also need tests to be convenient and affordable. The OXERA-Edge Health report tells us that the best-in-class antigen tests can tick all these boxes. It’s important for governments to consider these findings as they make plans for a re-start,” de Juniac said.

He added that testing requirements are currently fragmented, which is confusing to travellers. Moreover, many governments do not allow rapid testing. If the only options available for travellers are PCR tests, these come with significant costs disadvantages and inconvenience. And in some parts of the world, PCR testing capacity is limited, with priority correctly given to clinical use.

“Travellers need options. Including antigen testing among acceptable tests will certainly give strength to the recovery. And the EU’s specification of acceptable antigen tests offers a good baseline for wider international harmonisation of acceptable standards. We now need to see governments implement these recommendations. The goal is to have a clear set of testing options that are medically effective, financially accessible, and practically available to all prospective travelers,” de Juniac said.

Plans for digital vaccine passports were given a boost this morning after IATA, the global airline industry body, revealed its version of a digital travel pass would be launched on the Apple platform in mid-April.

Spain also today said it expects digital vaccine passports that can ease travel within the European Union to be ready in June at the latest.

Elsewhere, Deliveroo's shares have plunged as much as 31pc, the worst performance in decades for a big UK float. Its poor debut has dealt a blow to London’s efforts to establish itself as a hub for technology listings in the wake of Brexit.

And Bill Gates and the billionaire behind the mobile network Three, Li Ka-Shing, have invested a further $24m into a hydrogen plane start-up.

ZeroAvia, which is based in Cranfield and also has backing from the government, is working on a hydrogen powered propulsion system that will ultimately allow aircraft with up to 50 passengers.

09:54 AM

IATA says travel pass app to launch on Apple mid-April

Some more vaccine passport news this morning: Global airline industry body IATA has just announced that a digital travel pass for Covid-19 test results and vaccine certificates will launch on the Apple platform in mid-April.

The digital travel pass, currently in the testing phase, had been planned to be launched by the end of March.

IATA Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East Kamil Alawadhi said it was expected to launch on the Apple platform around April 15, and later for the Android platform.

"But the application will only achieve its success once airlines, different countries, airports adopt it," Alawadhi said.

Virgin Atlantic said on Friday it would trial the IATA app on its London to Barbados route from April 16. Barbados has said it will accept the pass at its border, one of the first countries to accept a digital pass instead of paper documentation.

Delta Air Lines Inc. will resume selling middle seats on May 1, ending the social-distancing policy after more than a year as a rising pace of COVID-19 vaccinations spurs a U.S. travel rebound.

In another sign of normalization, expanded offerings of onboard snacks, cocktails and other beverages will restart next month, Delta said in a statement Wednesday. The company is also extending the validity of tickets purchased in 2020 and 2021 through the end of next year, and adding more time for travelers to use some benefits earned through the Delta credit card.

The Atlanta-based airline is restoring elements of its pre-pandemic service amid rising evidence of a long-expected resurgence in travel demand as consumers seek to escape a year of staying close to home. With rivals American Airlines Group Inc. and United Airlines Holdings Inc. saying their planes are now flying as much as 80 per cent full, Delta will become the last major U.S. carrier to resume selling all of the seats in its cabins.

The decision to stop blocking middle seats was based in part on “the knowledge that nearly 65 per cent of those who flew Delta in 2019 anticipate having at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by May 1,” Delta Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian said in the statement. Masks will continue to be required during flights, the carrier said.

Starting April 14, domestic and short-haul international flights will offer snacks, sodas and alcohol, along with tea and coffee, the airline said. On some U.S. transcontinental flights, hot meals will return for first-class passengers and flyers in the airline’s premium Delta One seats. Boxed meals will come back in first class on some flights starting in July.

Many U.S. carriers removed meals and snacks for sale on board and served only bottled water during most of the pandemic, in an effort to help reduce person-to-person contact and make the onboard environment safer. Delta’s loyalty clubs will start to bring back food and beverages in May.

The airline will continue waiving change fees for no-frills Basic Economy tickets purchased through April 30, along with tickets that originate outside North America.

By Clement Idoko - Abuja

THE Nigeria Immigration Service has insisted that the visa on arrival policy introduced to enhance ease of doing business in Nigeria has not in any way compromised national security.

Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede, who said this on Wednesday in Abuja, said he was delighted that VOA has constituted 20 per cent of arrivals, which he said was a good development.

He also dismissed claims that the Federal Government is owing to a Malaysian company billions of naira for alleged passport booklets production contract. He maintained that passport booklets production is private-sector financed and that the Nigerian government is not owning anybody for the contract.

While explaining that the current scarcity of the travel document was temporary and caused by foreign exchange challenge, Babandede explained that Iris Smart Technology Nigeria Limited who won the contract for the supply of the passport booklets and maintenance is purely a Nigerian company, stressing that the Immigration Service has no business with a Malaysian company as reported in a section of the media.

The Immigration boss noted that Nigeria Visa Policy 2020 to cater for requirements and need of migrants intending to travel to Nigeria, was to liberalize the Visa issuance and process, ease doing business in Nigeria, encourage Foreign Direct Investments and make Nigeria the most preferred destination and hospitality hub.

He said the Visa on Arrival was originally conceived for business purpose and investment, but later extended to others during the COVID-19 lockdown to facilitate movements for essential service workers.

He said the same with Visa on Arrival for Africans and holders of African Union (AU) Passports to come to Nigeria and take their visas at the Point of Entry, Airport specifically, not Land or Sea Borders.

He frowned at the issue of fake marriages between foreigners and Nigerian ladies carried out to evade payment for Resident Permit, saying this has been on the increase from the year 2020 and that the policy would soon be reviewed.

Speaking further on passport scarcity, he said: “I must emphasize that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that
production of Nigerian Passport is domesticated.

“We as the operational arm of government have complied by making a proposal to ease the transition and to avoid a drought leading to shortage.

“A lot of Nigerians abroad especially in places like France, UK, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia and countries that have put stringent measures in place including locking down till date, Nigerians in those countries and others
experience hardship in renewing their Passports and could not obtain a new one both to continue staying with a valid Passport and for travelling back to Nigeria.

“We are working tirelessly with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to resolve the technical issues that are hampering the smooth transition,” he said.

He explained that as some of the affected countries are under lockdown, the Nigerian missions would have to also comply by closing down.

Babandede said: “With the closure of some Missions due to COVID-19 compliant policy of some countries, Nigerians in such countries where Missions are closed and are holding expired Passports can board aircraft after applying to the CGI for approval and clearance received they can proceed to the Airport for their onward journey o Nigeria.

“The Minister of Interior has magnanimously approved for the purpose of mitigating the problem opening of three (3) front Offices at three (3) International Airports namely: Mallam Animu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja and Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos

“This is to attend to the passport need of Nigerians on arrival with an expired passport before entry into the country,” he said.
https://tribuneonlineng.com/vi...

BY  Joseph Olaoluwa

The Nigerian Labour Congress has called off its strike to ground Turkish Airlines on Tuesday over the violation of workers’ rights.

The organised labour had vowed to picket the airline on March 30, 2021, adding that the mass action would commence in Lagos and Abuja airport toll gates in a letter to the general manager of the foreign carrier.

The PUNCH learnt the labour congress demobilised the protest after they received orders from the President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, not to go on with the strike action.

This was after several labour leaders from other allied unions converged on the Lagos airport to seek reversal of the sack of trade union leaders working in Turkish Airlines.

Chairperson, NLC Lagos State Council, Sessi Funmi, told our correspondent in an interview that workers demobilised after the airline sought to dialogue with the labour union.

She said, “Comrade Ayuba Wabba was to lead the picketing in Abuja while I was to lead the picketing in Lagos. But late yesterday night, the company called that they want us to sit down and dialogue with them.

“They initially brought one letter and I told them it was not acceptable. Based on that agreement, we are holding them in trust that everything will be resolved before May 1, 2021. If not, we will come back for them.”

Funmi made a case for the aviation workers, stressing that their rights should not be trampled upon.

She said all workers must be given respect, dignity and an enabling environment to work.

The NLC labour chairperson also warned that the airline must recall its sacked members before May 1 and pay all outstanding entitlements fully or face a serious mass action.

She said, “The NLC is fully into the action and we just want to respect the rule of dialogue. This is the last opportunity and we want them to take it seriously.

“We expect that on or before the recall date, their entitlements are paid to them in full. We also look forward to a cordial relationship between employers and employees.”

Funmi said workers had a right to form associations.

David-Chyddy Eleke looks at the Anambra International Cargo Airport being built by Governor Willie Obiano, and how it can help position the state for economic prosperity

The people of the South-east are very well known for their involvement in economic activities, but Anambra people have also distinguished themselves as chief among others states in the zone in the area of business. With Onitsha, which is popular for its economic activities, also known as the commercial capital of Anambra State, while also playing host to the largest market in the entire West Africa, and then Nnewi, which is the state’s industrial hub, and also known as the Japan of Africa; one cannot but acknowledge the ingenuity of Anambra people in business.

The Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano has however commenced a strong move to further boost the business ingenuity of the people of the state, through the construction of an international cargo airport that will receive and also export processed goods from Nigeria to other parts of the world.

Recently, the Joint National Assembly Committee on Aviation, comprising of members of the Senate and House of Representatives led by Senator Smart Adeyemi were at the site of the cargo airport project on oversight duties, and could not help but marvel at the enormity of the project and the quality of the job being put in place.

Adeyemi who led other senators and members of the House of Representatives from the aviation committee on the tour said, “I have been privileged to travel to a lot of countries, and each time I am in any airport around the world, I take out time to see what they have. I can attest that this is a massive project, and what you have just done is opening Anambra up economically.

“By doing so, you are also helping to open Nigeria up economically too. Aviation is key to development of any place. If you talk about economic development you must talk about aviation.

“I am not in doubt that apart from the length of the runway, the quality of the project here is key, especially being that it is a cargo airport that can take all manner of aircrafts. South -east are very enterprising people, and you have provided a platform for this region to reach its potential. I will tell you that whoever that will succeed you will have a job to do.

“The job will be to make this airport viable and not just for passengers but also for cargo. That person must start thinking of how to realise this. You have set the pace for your successor. I had been opportune to read about your exploits in the exportation of vegetables and other farm produce in Anambra State, and I believe that the inauguration of this airport will further open frontiers for more businesses for the people of the state, both in importation of good, and the export too,” Adeyemi said.

Adeyemi was not the only one who was sure that the project would impact on the businesses of the people of the state. The Chairman House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji was also optimistic of the impact the project would make on the people. He commended the state government for the project and charged them to ensure the completion of the airport as promised.

Days earlier, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Captian Musa Nuhu who was at the site for inspection had said, “I am amazed, almost speechless at the level of work and the level of compliance with our regulatory requirements and also with international standard and recommended practices.

“We have gone round the airport. We have a runway of 3.7km, with a runway safety area on both ends of the airport of about 1,000 metres.

“There is no airport in Nigeria that has a racer area of 1,000 metres at both ends of the runway, with two taxi ways. We have gone to the tower, the control tower is amazing, if not one of the best control towers in Nigeria today.”

Though it is an election year in Anambra, with the governorship election coming in months, the opposition parties and even aspirants to the governorship seat on the platform of opposition parties have not failed to compliment Obiano on the quality of the project.

For instance, Senator Uche Ekwunife, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, who is also a member of the Senate Committee on Aviation, who joined other senators to inspect the project expressed happiness at the vision of the governor.

 Ekwunife said: “Irrespective of political affiliation, when you see a good work you commend it. I want to commend you, my governor; to say that I am proud of this project is an understatement. I am truly very proud of this project.

“I want to say that for any viable business to thrive in any state, aviation is very critical. And I believe that this is a very very viable project and it’s a legacy project. I commend your government, but let me particularly commend your Commissioner for Works. Because no matter how good the intentions and the vision of the governor are, if the commissioner for Works is not doing well, it will affect this project. I saw the determination, the hard work, and the zeal when he was taking us round.

“I want to commend him. I commend the entire team that is putting up this project. On behalf the good people of Anambra Senatorial District that I am representing in the Senate, I want to express our good wishes to you and your government.”

 Obiano who conducted lawmakers and journalists through the projects exuded a lot of pride about the quality of his project, while assuring that the project would be ready for use by April, insisting that the airport is a one of a kind airport in Africa, with the length and quality of the runway, among others components.

He gleefully showed off the unique facilities of the project, saying; “This airport has the longest runway in Nigeria, except for Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. It is 3.7 kilometers, and if you add the two racers, that makes 5.2 kilometers. You can land or take off from either sides of the runway, and as you can see it is a dual carriage way.”

 “This airport is going to be the very best in Africa, with a satellite lighting system, that cannot be seen anywhere else in Africa. We did this deliberately because we envisage that it is going to be a very busy airport. In five days, we would have finished everything about the runway. The apron is completed, the control tower is a seven floor architectural piece.

“The control tower has a lifespan of 300 years, while the parking lot is built to take 750 vehicles at a stretch. The project is one that any Anambra indigene will be proud of, and in one month’s time, the airport will be functional. It may interest you to know that we did not borrow any money from anywhere in doing this project,” he added.

Already, the business community in Anambra State is expectant of the opening of the cargo airport, with some business representatives who also undertook the tour commending the governor.

Chief Lawrence Ugwu, a businessman told journalists that besides the economic benefits the airport would have on businesses, thousands of people, most of whom would be Anambra indigenes would also gain employment into the project once it begins to function.

He added that, “As a cargo airport, our farmers who are already exporting vegetables to other countries would find a lot of ease of doing business, because before now, you have to process and take to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and most times there is flight delay.

“But with this airport, they can schedule their flight ahead of time, and also supply to their international consumers early enough, and you can be sure that the quality of the vegetable would still be very rich, and more people from outside can now be placing demands. There will just be spiral effect on businesses in the state,” he said.

PARIS - Calling the new, faster-spreading variants of the coronavirus "an epidemic within the epidemic," French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday extended a lockdown to the entire country and closed schools through the end of April.

In a televised address to the nation, Macron said a "more dangerous, contagious and deadly" virus surging in France left him no choice.

"If we are choosing to close down the whole country it's because no area of the country is spared," Macron said. "Everywhere the virus is spreading faster and faster and everywhere, hospitalizations are rising."

Gatherings inside and outside are also banned and people will not be allowed to travel more than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from their homes. Macron said unlike the first confinement last spring, people who leave their homes will not have to fill out a form with the time, date and purpose of their outing. "We are choosing to have confidence in people's sense of responsibility," he said.

"Everyone has to make sure not that they close themselves in, but that they limit, to the maximum, their contacts, meetings and time spent with others," said Macron.

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The president's announcement was entirely anticipated. France's intensive care units are at capacity with more than 5,000 COVID-19 patients health officials say, and hospitalizations have already surpassed the second wave of this past winter. They are on track to surpass even the first deadly wave of last spring.

Over the weekend, several dozen emergency room doctors signed an open letter in the newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, warning that if something is not done, hospitals would soon have to begin choosing which patients receive treatment. "We cannot remain silent without betraying our Hippocratic oath," they said.

Jacob Kirkegaard, who studies health care systems as a senior fellow with the German Marshall Fund, says the new strains of the virus are forcing countries to step up their public health measures. Britain, Germany and Italy are also in various forms of lockdown.

"When COVID cases in a country are suddenly much more contagious, the lockdowns need to be adjusted and made much tougher," he said.

Kirkegaard said vaccinations in France have not yet increased to a level which would make a difference in transmission. Thirteen percent of the French have received one dose of a vaccine. Only 4% have been fully vaccinated. But Macron said the pace of vaccination would go faster very soon.

"We are putting all our means behind vaccinating, vaccinating, vaccinating," he said, "on Saturday and Sunday just like during the week." Macron said some 250,000 health professionals - doctors, pharmacists, veterinarians and fire fighters – will be involved in the massive vaccination effort across the country.

Over the last few warm, spring days, the banks of the Seine River in Paris have looked a lot like Venice Beach, Calif., with young people working-out and sunbathing, their masks under their chins. Macron said there will be patrols enforcing restrictions on alcohol consumption in public and plenty of fines given. Bars and restaurants have been closed since last fall.

Doctors say COVID-19 patients in France's ICUs are younger and younger, often without any underlying health problems. Macron said 44% of patients in intensive care are younger than 65.

The country's Scientific Council, which advises the government on measures to combat the virus, called for a strict lockdown in January. Macron defended his decision not to lock the country down then, saying people had benefitted from "precious weeks of liberty."

But he said the accelerating pandemic propelled by new variants meant France had to set a new course for the coming months.

Writing of the gravity of the situation this week in the newspaper Libération, Patrick Bouet, president of the National Council of the Order of Doctors, called on Macron to institute stricter measures. "The virus is winning and we have lost control of the pandemic," Bouet said.

France is now approaching 100,000 coronavirus deaths. "That's the equivalent of wiping the city of Nancy from the map," wrote Bouet.

The Federal Government on Tuesday unveiled an express passport processing centre, also known as “Premium Passport Processing Centre”, to fast track the process of obtaining Nigeria passport.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, minister of Interior, while unveiling the centre said it would offer specialised services to only Nigerians desirous to obtain their passports within 24 and 72 hours, according to NAN reports.

Aregbesola said the centre was in response to the yearnings of the general public for the ministry and the NIS to devise additional ways that passport issuance process could be less stressful and more efficient.

He said the centre would offer value added service to all Nigerians, irrespective of their status; socially, politically and economically.

He, however, warned that services at the centre should be limited to the purpose it was created, while those interested in the normal service should patronise the conventional centres of NIS across the country.

“Every Nigerian has the right to a Nigerian passport and it is our responsibility to put it in the hands of anyone desirous of it within the shortest possible time without stress.

“The passport should be available in maximum of 72 hours of a successful application.

“Where there are issues, the applicant must be notified within 48 hours.

“A centre like this is necessary to reduce stress and by minimising human contact and this will eliminate the prospect of corruption.

“Further to the above, the sudden emergence of COVID-19 in our world today has not only affected our health, but it has also affected the way we do business and interact socially,” he said.

Aregbesola said that as Nigeria continue to adjust to the ‘New Normal’, the NIS, by the initiative, was decentralising the passport issuing process by bringing it to the doorstep of Nigerians.

The minister said the commencement of the operations of the world class facility would offer Nigerians services of convenience and pleasure by taking away the hitherto stress in the conventional passport offices.

“This will also afford Nigerians the opportunity of getting their passports within 24 hours, at the high premium service and 72 hours at the ordinary premium service, albeit with added value and a little bit of extra cost,” Aregbesola said.

He said that while the centre was in line with international best practice, it was also in conformity with the Executive Order 1 on the ease of doing business in Nigeria which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017.

He added that the centre would also generate employment opportunities for Nigerians.

He said that the Maitama Passport Express Centre (MPEC) was a pilot scheme, adding that the goal is to have such facility in every county in the country.

While commending the leadership and personnel of the NIS for the laudable achievement and others recorded within the year, Aregbesola warned the service not to rest on its oars in their services to Nigeria.

“Our world today is at the tip of technological revolution. Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind.”

“It is in this regard that I urge you to continue to explore and develop innovative and technologically driven ideas aimed at repositioning the NIS to compete favourably with its counterparts all over the world without prejudice to national security.

“The NIS has no other choice but to rise to the challenges of our time and deliver efficient, effective and satisfactory service to Nigerians as nothing short of this will be entertained.”

The Comptroller-General of the service, Mr Muhammad Babandede, said the inauguration of the Express Centre was a step towards solving the problems associated with Passport administration.

“The Maitama Passport Express Centre (MPEC) is therefore, established to provide expedite and guaranteed service for applicants willing to pay a premium for prompt and convenient service.

“The centre will be non-judgmental and has provision for large comfortable VIP lounge, refreshment, queue management system and other necessary facilities to ensure comfort and speedy delivery of quality service.

“This centre will have a dedicated National Identity Number (NIN), registration unit and cater to the complete passport issuance process from enrolment to production for only Fresh and Re-issue passport applications.

“Other categories of passport applications including change of data, replacement of damaged, lost/stolen passport and others shall continue to be processed at the Service Headquarters and other approved passport issuing authorities,” he said.

According to him, in line with its statutory mandate, NIS last week posted out the entire staff of Amana Passport Office for negligence and complexity in passport administration.

He added that many of its officers were dismissed, deranked and some are facing disciplinary procedures for corrupt practices and loss of passport booklets.

Babandede further explained that the service would, however, not rest on its laurels as its remain committed to evolving into the best Immigration Service worldwide.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlight of the event was a tour of the centre facilities by the minister led by the Managing Director of the IRIS Smart Technologies ltd., Olayinka Fisher.

NAN also reports that presentation of first passport processed and issued at the centre was carried out by the Minister to one Lawani Temitope.

Temitope described the process involved as fast and pleasant, saying “I am happy to get my passport in less than 24 hours”.