The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Interior Minister have been ordered by a Federal High Court in Abuja to make sure that passports be granted to applicants in no more than six weeks. Numerous complaints regarding the lengthy application and renewal processes for passports, which have left many Nigerians trapped both domestically and overseas, led to this decision.

The court described the delays as a violation of citizens’ rights and underlined the need of following the deadline. The decision also requires the NIS to streamline the application procedure, boost productivity, and do rid of corruption that is frequently connected to passport issue.

For Nigerians who have long experienced challenges in getting passports, this decision represents a big achievement. In order to boost Nigeria’s reputation internationally and rebuild public trust in the NIS, the government is currently under pressure to change the system and achieve the six-week deadline.