The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has called for a transparent investigation into reports that the name of Dunamis International Gospel Centre appeared on payment receipts linked to Nigerian passport renewal transactions.
In a statement released on Wednesday, MPAC said the alleged incident has raised concerns about the neutrality and integrity of public service systems, especially those handling critical national processes.
Citing multiple reports, the group noted that some Nigerians who processed passport payments through a channel integrated with Paystack noticed an unexpected reference to a Christian organisation in their transaction details.
Responding to the allegations, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) denied any connection with the church and maintained that all passport applications and payments are carried out exclusively on its official portal. The agency described the claims as false and disclosed that an investigation into the matter is ongoing.
While acknowledging the response, MPAC stressed that the situation requires more than a denial. It said the appearance, whether genuine or manipulated—of a religious institution within a government payment system raises serious concerns about oversight and system security.
The group warned that such incidents, even if isolated, could undermine public confidence and heighten suspicion in a religiously sensitive society.
MPAC urged authorities to conduct an independent investigation, make the findings public, and undertake a comprehensive audit of all third-party payment integrations used in government services. It also called for accountability for any parties found responsible and the implementation of stronger cybersecurity measures to prevent a recurrence.
The organisation further advised Nigerians to remain calm and to use only verified official platforms, including the NIS passport application portal, for passport-related transactions.
“Transparency must not only be upheld but must also be seen to be upheld,” the statement added, emphasizing the need to maintain public trust in government institutions.