NIS Expands Passport Intervention Services for Nigerians Abroad
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has carried out special passport intervention exercises in the United States, Canada and Qatar as part of efforts to make passport services more accessible to Nigerians living overseas.
The intervention is also ongoing in the United Kingdom, according to a statement issued by the NIS Public Relations Officer, Akinlabi Akinsola, on Monday in Abuja.
Akinsola said the initiative was implemented under the direction of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, with the aim of addressing passport-related challenges and bringing services closer to Nigerians in different cities.
The exercises were organised in partnership with Nigerian diplomatic missions and representatives of Nigerian communities in the affected countries.
According to the NIS, 535 applicants were enrolled across Chicago, Michigan and Milwaukee in the United States between September 7 and 15. In Canada, 2,257 Nigerians were enrolled in Manitoba, Toronto, Saskatoon, Alberta and New Brunswick between September 6 and 19.
Qatar recorded 751 enrolments between August 9 and 24, while the ongoing intervention in London and Manchester had processed 5,099 applicants as of September 21.
The NIS said passport production and dispatch were being conducted alongside the UK intervention exercise.
Applicants who could not obtain appointment slots, as well as those who prefer not to visit the designated centres or the Nigerian High Commission in person, were advised to use the Contactless Passport Application System.
The service said it would continue working to provide faster, more accessible and convenient passport services to Nigerians in the diaspora.
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