Alaafin: Oyo passport office autonomy’ll boost local economy, ease travel burden

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By Adeola Badru

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IBADAN — The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has welcomed the newly granted autonomy to the Oyo Passport Office, describing the development as a significant step towards decentralising government services and stimulating economic activities in the ancient city.

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The monarch said the development would bring critical government services closer to residents, particularly those in rural and semi-urban communities who previously had to travel to Ibadan or Ilorin to access passport-related services.

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Oba Owoade stated this through a high-powered delegation led by a member of the Oyo Traditional Council (Oyo Mesi), High Chief Asimiyu Atanda, during a visit to the Oyo Passport Office to felicitate with its management on the autonomy recently granted to the facility.

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Before the development, the Oyo Passport Office operated as an appendage of the Ibadan Passport Office and was required to refer certain operations to the latter.

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With the new status, however, the Oyo Passport Office can operate independently, while international passports processed through the facility will bear the name of the Oyo Passport Office.

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The Alaafin said the development was significant because having a local passport office was essential to decentralising government services and improving accessibility.

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He noted that the autonomous facility would “eliminate long-distance travel to state capitals” and reduce pressure on major passport processing centres.

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According to him, residents would no longer have to bear the additional transportation costs and time associated with travelling outside Oyo for biometric capture, documentation and other passport-related services.

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Oba Owoade said the development would “bring biometric capture and documentation services closer to rural or semi-urban residents, saving travel time and transport costs.”

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The monarch also linked the development to broader economic benefits for Oyo, arguing that increased movement of applicants and visitors to the city would generate additional patronage for local businesses.

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He said the office would “alleviate massive workloads and long queues at Central State or Regional Passport Headquarters” while creating opportunities for businesses operating around the facility.

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“It would also increase local commercial activities as travellers from neighbouring towns visit the city for administrative processing, as well as create jobs directly through facility staffing and indirectly via local micro-businesses that support office visitors,” the Alaafin said.

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Earlier, the Chief Passport Officer of the Oyo Passport Office, Assistant Controller of Immigration Oladejo Taiwo David, expressed appreciation to the Alaafin and his delegation for the visit.

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Oladejo acknowledged the role played by the monarch and other prominent Oyo indigenes in securing the autonomous status for the office.

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“This feat wouldn’t have been achieved if not for the efforts of His Imperial Majesty,” he said, while also acknowledging the support of prominent Oyo sons, particularly Alhaji Daud Igi-Ogun.

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The Chief Passport Officer appealed to the Alaafin to assist the office in creating awareness among residents about the services now available in Oyo.

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He urged residents to take advantage of the development by patronising the Oyo Passport Office instead of travelling to Ibadan or Ilorin for passport-related services.

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“We solicit the support of His Imperial Majesty in the creation of awareness for the people to start patronising the Passport Office instead of going to Ibadan and Ilorin,” Oladejo said.

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He assured residents that the new autonomous status would lead to more efficient service delivery.

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According to him, “Oyo Passport Office would serve the people better as it would be faster to get their passports.”

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The Alaafin’s delegation comprised the Director of Administration to the monarch, Prince Adesola Sanda, and renowned Sheikh, Alhaji Daud Igi-Ogun.

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