By Godwin Okoro, Abuja
The House of Representatives yesterday set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the reasons for the shortage of passport booklets issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The ad-hoc committee is also to probe alleged sharp practices as a result of the shortage in the NIS to find a lasting solution and report back within two months for further legislative action.

The House also urged the NIS to halt its policy for biometrics capture and immediately purchase more machines to aid the process

These followed the adoption of a motion on the need to find a lasting solution to the lingering issue of the shortage of passport booklets sponsored by Fred Agbedi.

The House said it was aware that in recent times the process of applying for Nigerian passports has become frustrating as the process is bedevilled with delays occasioned by the shortage of passport booklets.

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These, it said, have brought about sharp practices as well as rip-off charges, to the detriment of the people within and outside the country.

The House said the Nigerian Immigration Service was quoted to have commenced the production of 30,000 e-passports intending to put an end to the issues of delays.

It said despite these modalities, the issue of shortage of passport booklets is still lingering.

The House said, consequently, intending travellers wait for several months and sometimes up to a year after capturing for their passport to be issued to them.

The House worried that there are persons who need their passports to travel out of the country for several reasons such as medical attention, business, education, or being with family.