The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an indigenous firm, Iris Smart Technology Ltd, for the production of international passports locally.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, the minister of interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulraham Dambazau (retd), explained that by the agreement, the production of e-passport will be done solely in Nigeria.
According to the Minister, the development will lead to the protection of our data base as a nation, adding that producing the document locally would provide employment for Nigerians to acquire skills in passport production as well as the technological know-how in the production of high-quality passport booklets.
“We must ensure that we provide Nigerians with the best quality passport booklet because that is what Nigerians deserve,” he said.
In his remarks, the comptroller-general of immigration, Mr. Mohammed Babandede, thanked the minister for ensuring that domestication of production of the passport was achieved.
He said the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) would be the greatest beneficiary of the development and assured that the passport would be of high quality.
The managing director of NSPM Plc, Mr. Abbas Masanawa, commended the ministry of interior for the initiative and effort to see it through.
