In a decisive move to tackle the ongoing passport crisis, the federal government has announced plans to procure additional machines for printing passports. This strategic decision aims to alleviate the backlog that has plagued citizens awaiting their travel documents.

The Director General of Passports and Immigration has submitted a requisition for new equipment to the Ministry of Interior for approval. Authorities state that the procurement will consist of six desktop computers and two e-passport machines. These advanced machines can print up to 1,000 passports per hour, greatly improving the efficiency of the passport printing process.

This intervention comes in response to a year-long delay in passport printing across the country. The delays have been attributed to a shortage of paper and the use of outdated, low-efficiency machines. These issues have caused considerable inconvenience to citizens, many of whom have faced prolonged waiting times for their passports.

The introduction of new machines aims to speed up the printing process, ensuring timely delivery of passports to citizens. This initiative is part of the government’s larger effort to enhance public service delivery and overcome the obstacles that have delayed passport issuance.

The Ministry of Interior is expected to quickly review and approve the requisition, acknowledging the urgent necessity to address the passport crisis. Once the new machines are installed, authorities expect a substantial decrease in the backlog, thereby restoring confidence in the passport issuance system.