Planning to Travel, Relocate, or Process Documents? This Update Is for Every Nigerian Worldwide
.......Police Character Certificate: Nigerians Told to Stop Paying Bribes, Use Online Portal Instead
By Passman Akpos
The public has been reminded that Nigerians do not need to pay bribes or use middlemen to obtain a Police Character Certificate (PCC) for immigration, employment, education, or other official purposes.
The clarification was shared by Chukwudi Kanu, who urged citizens to take advantage of the online application process through the Police Specialized Services Automation Project (POSSAP) portal. According to him, applicants can complete the process from the comfort of their homes without paying unofficial fees to anyone.
He stated that the processing period for a Police Character Certificate is typically between five and ten working days, provided all required information and supporting documents are correctly submitted.
To apply, applicants are expected to provide their name, NIN or BVN, email address, Nigerian residential address, local government area, state of origin, reason for the request, destination country, a recent passport photograph, and a scanned copy of their international passport.
Kanu also advised Nigerians to ensure that the phone number linked to their National Identification Number (NIN) remains active and accessible. He explained that many verification processes require a One-Time Password (OTP) sent to the registered number, warning that outdated or inactive phone numbers could lead to unnecessary delays in processing important applications.
A Police Character Certificate, also known as a Police Clearance Certificate, is an official document issued to confirm that an individual has no criminal record, pending criminal convictions, or active warrants.
The certificate is widely required for immigration and visa applications, overseas employment, admission into foreign universities, domestic employment in sensitive positions, professional licensing, and child adoption processes.
Applicants can process and monitor their applications online through the POSSAP portal, eliminating the need for unofficial agents and reducing opportunities for extortion.
Authorities continue to encourage Nigerians to use official channels for government services and to report any demands for bribes during the application process
