If you have the dream of exploring the world then it is important to get a passport. A passport seems to be very important especially if you have plans of leaving the country for something very important such as schooling, working, or even starting a new life in another country.
In Nigeria, Having a passport could be equivalent to having gold in your possession due to the hassle that comes with securing one. Most people have nowhere to go but then they tend to pursue the ownership of a passport. That way when they secure something that requires a passport they do not lose out on it.
Last year, I had a scholarship I was supposed to apply for but one of the criteria was possessing a passport which I didn’t have any that time so I couldn’t apply for it. The scholarship has a duration which it will last and applying for a passport in Nigeria takes a longer duration to get ready.
Before now, I thought that the Passport was very easy to secure not until I got to see and experience it. I always thought that just filling in your details for the online application and waiting for your scheduled appointment was the only process. I thought after your appointment you get issued your passport but then it takes a longer time. Sometimes I tend to think that they do not want us to leave the country due to the stress that comes with it.
I have seen my cousin go through the process of securing an international passport because he needed it to pursue his master's. The whole process took a month and some days. Most time he will visit the immigration center and then find out his passport can not be ready that day while sometimes, he will go and queue up then at the end of the day it doesn’t get to his turn.
I also realize that the price for securing a passport in my country differs in each state. Securing a passport in my State of Origin happens to be very expensive while over there in the north it is usually less expensive and even takes a shorter duration to get ready. Most times I am made to believe that it is your money that will get your passport ready very fast as if you pay an agent inside he or she could get it ready for you at a shorter duration without the hassle that comes with it.
Right now, I am applying for my passport and I must say the whole process is hectic and time-consuming because some days you just go and then you achieve nothing.
I think the Nigerian government needs to look into the area of immigration which has to do with the processing of passports and other activities and ensure that there is adequate transparency and also ensure that people get to process these in time, instead of going through the process of waiting months especially if you do not have money to pay for the agents to get it across to you swiftly.
All images used are mine except otherwise stated
This submission is based on the #aprilinleo prompt you could check it out Here
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