The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has issued a stern warning to Nigerians to steer clear of fraudulent platforms posing as legitimate passport payment portals.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday, NIS Public Relations Officer Akinsola Akinlabi dismissed circulating claims linking a religious organisation to the passport payment process, calling them false and misleading. He affirmed that the passport application system remains secure, transparent, and government-sanctioned, and is only accessible through the agency’s official portal.
“The service has not authorised any religious body, private organisation or individual to act as an intermediary or receive payments on its behalf,” Akinlabi stated.
He put the public on notice that any platform or link purporting to handle passport payments outside official channels should be regarded as fraudulent, and urged Nigerians to avoid such sources entirely.
Akinlabi revealed that the NIS has launched an investigation into the origins of the allegations, with preliminary findings suggesting that certain individuals are deliberately attempting to mislead the public or damage the agency’s image. He warned that those found responsible would face appropriate sanctions, reiterating that the service operates strictly in line with government financial regulations and works exclusively with accredited payment providers listed on its platform.
He further cautioned that any payments made through unapproved channels would be entirely at the user’s own risk, and that the NIS would bear no responsibility for resulting financial losses.
The agency called on Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora to stay alert, rely only on official platforms, and shun unauthorised agents, pledging ongoing efforts to fortify its systems against fraud and exploitation.
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