Nigerians to Apply for and Receive Passports From Home Starting in March

The federal government announced today it will start allowing full contactless passport applications and courier delivery services beginning in March. The initiative aims to simplify and expedite passport issuance across the country.

According to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, applicants will soon be able to complete the passport application process entirely online without visiting any offices. Approved passports will then be delivered securely to the applicant's chosen address via courier.

The contactless application system will enable Nigerians to apply for standard passports from anywhere using their phones, computers or other devices. Biometric and personal data will be captured electronically.

Once approved, the immigration service will print and deliver the passport using dedicated courier providers. Applicants can track the production and delivery status online.

The government hopes streamlining the application process will reduce congestion at passport offices while making the travel document more accessible to all citizens.

The new contactless application and courier delivery system will launch in March 2024 following completion of necessary upgrades to infrastructure and technology systems.

Additional application centers are being established across the country to support the initiative and process higher passport demand.

"We are modernizing the passport application process to make it seamless for all Nigerians," said MinisterOlubunmi Tunji-Ojo. "The full digitization and courier delivery will make applying for a Nigerian passport stress-free."

2,000+ Moroccan Earthquake Victims; Cristiano Ronaldo Offers Shelter and Aid.

Cristiano Ronaldo offers shelter and aid to Moroccan earthquake victims

Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the world's most famous footballers, has shown his generosity and compassion by offering shelter and aid to the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Morocco on Friday night.

The 6.8-magnitude quake, which was the strongest to hit that part of the North African nation in more than 120 years¹, killed at least 2,012 people and injured over 2,059, many of them critically². Thousands of people were left homeless and without access to basic services, as the quake damaged buildings, roads, and infrastructure across several provinces.

Ronaldo, who has a long history of charity work and philanthropy³, announced on his social media accounts that he would open his luxury hotel in Marrakech, which he co-owns with Portuguese businessman Dionisio Pestana⁴, to accommodate some of the quake survivors. He also pledged to donate 1 million euros to the Moroccan Red Crescent to support their relief efforts.

"I am deeply saddened by the tragedy that struck Morocco, a country that I love and admire. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims, and with all those who are suffering from this disaster. I want to do my part to help them in this difficult time, and I hope that my gesture will inspire others to do the same. We are all one human family, and we need to stand together in solidarity and compassion," Ronaldo wrote in his post.

Ronaldo's hotel, Pestana CR7 Marrakech, which opened in 2020⁵, is located in the heart of the city, near the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square. The hotel has 164 rooms, two restaurants, a rooftop bar, a spa, a fitness center, and a swimming pool. Ronaldo said that he would personally oversee the arrangements for the quake victims, and that he would visit them as soon as possible.

Ronaldo's fans and followers praised his generosity and kindness, and thanked him for his support to Morocco. Many Moroccan celebrities and public figures also expressed their gratitude and admiration for Ronaldo, calling him a "true hero" and a "role model".

Ronaldo is not the only footballer who has shown solidarity with Morocco after the quake. His former teammate at Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos, also donated 500,000 euros to the Moroccan Red Crescent⁶. Other players, such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Mohamed Salah, and Paul Pogba, also sent messages of condolence and encouragement to the Moroccan people..

Sources:

Cristiano Ronaldo philanthropy: What charities is the star .... https://www.goal.com/en/news/cristiano-ronaldo-philanthropy-what-charities-is-the/zp2qhbgp16ef133rt9t8zx1eu.