Akeem Lasisi
The Senate has proved that it is not immune to the popular error of using ‘international’ with passport.
Many Nigerians refer to the travelling document as ‘international passport’ whereas it is simply called what it is in other countries: passport.
Branding it ‘international passport’ makes the expression tautological.
Some experts would say ‘international’ is redundant in the statement, with other examples of tautological expressions including ATM machine, NIN number and ISBN number.
‘International passport’ came up as the Senate, on Tuesday, mandated its committee on ‘Interior’ to investigate the circumstances leading to the delay in issuance and renewal of the document by the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS).
As the News Agency of Nigeria reports, the resolution is sequel to the adoption of a motion on the “Delay on issuance, renewal of Nigeria International Passport” by the NIS.
The motion was sponsored by Sen. Uche Ekwunife (PDP-Anambra).
Ekwunife, in her lead debate, said the delay was resulting in untold hardships for Nigerians who needed to travel out of the country or return.
She said the ‘international passport’ was an official identity document, issued to Nigerians for the purpose of international travelling in exercise of their right to personal liberty and freedom of movement.
She said many Nigerians were still facing challenges with passport processing, despite the six weeks time line of processing it, given by the Federal Government barely a year ago.
Interestingly, Ekwunife is, however, quoted to subsequently drop the redundant word thus: “The international students are also finding it very difficult to renew their passports to enable them travel back to reunite with their families.”
Meanwhile, it is acceptable to say Nigerian passport, British passport or diplomatic passport. But ‘international passport’ is an overkill as there is no ‘national passport’ in the first place.
