There has been an increase in the number of Nigerian university students seeking to collect ECOWAS Traveling Certificates in recent times.
This was disclosed by Mr Abubakar Abdulkadir, the Deputy Comptroller of Immigration in Calabar during the celebration of this year’s SERVICOM week held at the headquarters of Nigeria Immigration Service from 14 to 18 February 2021.
He spoke on behalf of Mr Chris Baikie, the Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Service.
“There is a sharp increase in the number of Nigerian students preferring to apply for ECOWAS Traveling Certificates (ETC).
“There was a time over 20 students came for the certificate in a day. I suspect they may have been sponsored.
“Many Nigerian students have gotten the ETC and are studying in Ghanaian university presently.”
Abdulkadir listed that the NIS has an array of public services which are not limited to the issuance of international Passports or ECOWAS Traveling Certificates but cuts across several Immigration services.
On issuance of International passports, Clementina Ogbudu who is the Passport Control Officer said 281 applicants have now come forward to claim their abandoned passports which they applied for since 2018.
Ogbundu told journalists in January 2022 that there were 2,560 Nigerian Passports uncollected from the Calabar office since 2018.
She said they have reached out to many of the applicants using a dedicated telephone line and many have positively responded and have reduced the number of uncollected passports.
Reacting to the services of the NIS in Calabar Passport Office, two applicants Dr Ededet Akpan Enoh from Akwa Ibom State and Mazi Okey Maduekwe from Imo State said the immigration services have improved in recent times.
“From what I have seen so far, I am pleased with the way I and my wife have been attended to. Perhaps it is like that every day”, Enoh said.
