All applications for new Nigerian passports and entry visas are soon to be routed through the internet, Minister of Information and National Orientation Frank Nweke Jr. said here on Wednesday.

Briefing reporters at the end of routine Wednesday meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), Nweke said "applications for expatriate work permit will also be routed through the internet."

He said the information technology infrastructure needed for the purpose would be provided through private/public sector partnership at the cost of 352 million naira (about 2.79 million U. S. dollars).

The minister said the memo, which sought to fully turn the immigration department around, was among others, aimed at fast- tracking the process of visa applications as well as curb corruption in the collection of processing fees.

Under the new initiative, he added, "applicants can apply for passports and visas and pay for them online" and the items would then be delivered to them.

Nweke said applicants for such documents could use credit cards, scratch cards or debit cards to pay for the fees applicable to any documents they were applying for.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2006)