Xtian Pilgrims Board Partners Immigration Service On Improved Service Delivery

By: Lucy Philip

The FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board has called for partnership with the Nigeria Immigration Service for improved service delivery to the pilgrims.

Accordingly, the partnership is expected to ensure prompt issuance of Passport and other requirements needed for hitch free trip to Holy land.

The Acting Director, FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mrs. Rehila Isah Baita, made the call, when the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), FCT Command, Bas Pepple, paid her a courtesy call in her office, Zone 5, Wuse I District, Abuja.

The Director said that the partnership is intended to abate delay usually experienced during processing for Passports by the Pilgrims in the Federal Capital Territory.

She revealed that persistent and similar complaints about the delay on issuance of Passport to the intending Pilgrims have been received by the Board, which deserves to be addressed.

Baita disclosed that before now, plans were already in progress to initiate a strategic partnership with the Immigration Service, FCT Command as an effort to end the challenges that have connection with the processing of Passport for Pilgrimage.

The Director reiterated that partnership between the duo is necessary and the collaboration would serve as a tool to change the previous narrative that has to do with abscondment and tedious way of Passport processing for intending Pilgrims.

Baita, who emphasized on the importance of Pilgrims preparedness, said the NIS is a relevant instrument in ensuring a streamlined Passport issuance process to prevent last-minute hiccups that could leave Pilgrims stranded at the Airport.

The Director, however, proposed a reward system, where hard working Immigration Officers could be considered for Pilgrimage slots; adding that the innovative approach is one of her prerequisites to her commitment to encourage Christians to understand the importance of Pilgrimage.

Baita, who spoke on the the transformative potentials of Pilgrimage, said one of the basic partnership agenda between the duo should be sensitization and orientation of the prospective Christian Pilgrims on the significance of the Pilgrimage experience and other necessary activities that has connection with their trip.

Responding, the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, FCT Command, Bas Pepple, pledged her full support in ensuring that the challenges that have been enumerated by the Director are abated and addressed properly.

Pepple pledged a prompt improvements in Passport renewal; emphasizing that intending Pilgrims can now conveniently renew their Passports from the comfort of their homes by improving the instruments and the entire processes involved in the production of Passports.

She promised to sustain the established relationship with the Board in order to remedy the challenges that are related with the issuance of Passport and others that are in NIS position to resolve.

Pepple assured the Board to act as an ambassador for promoting its services and ensuring a smooth Pilgrimage experience for all FCT Christian faithful.