Minister of Interior, Mr  Abba Moro


By Onwuka Nzeshi

Minister of Interior, Mr  Abba Moro Friday disagreed with members of the House of Representatives  over which  category of Nigerians  should possess  diplomatic passports while on foreign trips.

The disagreement came at a  public hearing organised by  the House Committee on Interior on a  bill seeking to  amend  Passport (Miscellaneous Provision) Act Cap. P1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Whereas the  lawmakers wanted the  list of  diplomatic Passport holders to be scaled down, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro clamoured for an expansion of the list to include spouses of government officials whose husband already have diplomatic passports. The legislators also canvassed a reduction of the discretionary   powers of the President to issue diplomatic passports to any Nigerian.

Chairman, House Committee on Interior, Hon.  Bature Umar said some holders of diplomatic passports had abused the privilege, hence there was need to review the process of its acquisition. According to Umar such a review will streamline the category of beneficiaries and save the country  incessant embarrassment from the international community.

He said that over the years there has been dispute over who should carry the diplomatic passport.