PEBEC intervention highlights progress in resolving public service bottlenecks

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has received public commendation following its intervention in resolving a delayed international passport renewal, with the development highlighting ongoing efforts to improve service delivery across government institutions.

The commendation followed the testimony of a Nigerian passport applicant who shared her experience on social media after her passport, which had remained uncollected due to an administrative communication gap, was successfully processed following PEBEC’s intervention.

According to the applicant, she applied for the renewal of her international passport in April and was informed that the process would be completed within four weeks. However, after weeks without any update, she made several attempts to obtain information through the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) but was unable to resolve the issue.

She explained that after contacting PEBEC and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) through their official platforms, she received a call from a senior official at the passport office.

The applicant later discovered that her passport had actually been ready since June 2, but she had not been notified because she did not opt for the home delivery service, despite selecting the pick-up option during her application.

“I had applied for passport renewal in April. I was told it would take four weeks. I called in June, but the phone number on the email I received didn’t work. I went to the Nigerian Immigration Service website and was told to check online, but it still wasn’t ready.

“A few days ago, I said to myself, it’s almost 12 weeks, what is wrong? So I called again and then reached out to PEBEC and the FCCPC. Guess who called me from the passport office today? Some oga at the top.

“My passport has been ready since the second of June. There was no text message because I didn’t pay for delivery, even though I selected the pick-up option. So Nigeria does work. If you’re having any challenge with any government agency, PEBEC and FCCPC work. Just send an email through their websites,” she said.

Her testimony has attracted positive reactions online, with many social media users describing the outcome as an encouraging example of responsive governance and improved public service delivery.

The development also underscores PEBEC’s role in working with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to address administrative bottlenecks, improve regulatory efficiency and enhance the quality of government services available to citizens and businesses.

Established by the Federal Government, PEBEC is mandated to improve Nigeria’s business and regulatory environment through reforms that promote transparency, accountability and efficiency across public institutions.

The Council has continued to collaborate with MDAs to simplify administrative processes, reduce service delivery delays and improve the overall experience of citizens interacting with government agencies.