The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has deployed a special passport intervention team to the United Kingdom to address the growing backlog of unprocessed Nigerian passport applications, as announced in a statement released on Sunday. The move follows directives from Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, who ordered the deployment to ensure timely service delivery for Nigerians abroad. The team is expected to arrive in the UK on Monday and will focus on processing new passport applications, renewals for expired documents, and resolving other pending passport-related matters.
The intervention team will travel to designated cities across the United Kingdom to conduct enrolment and processing activities, ensuring that eligible applicants in various regions can access the services. This initiative is open to first-time applicants, individuals with pending applications, and existing passport holders whose documents are set to expire within one year. By bringing the processing closer to applicants, the NIS aims to reduce waiting times and improve service efficiency for Nigerians living overseas.
According to the statement, specific schedules for enrolment and the list of cities where the team will operate will be communicated to the public in due course. Applicants are encouraged to direct any inquiries or complaints to the official email address: passport.london@immigration.gov.ng. The NIS emphasized that this effort is part of its broader strategy to enhance service delivery and meet the increasing demand for Nigerian passports among the diaspora.
This deployment comes amid rising concerns over long delays in passport issuance, which have affected travel plans and official obligations for many Nigerians in the UK. The intervention reflects the government’s commitment to addressing inefficiencies in immigration services and improving the experience for citizens abroad. The NIS has also stressed the importance of using official channels for communication and discouraged reliance on unofficial sources for updates.
By establishing a physical presence in key UK locations, the NIS hopes to streamline the application process and reduce the burden on applicants who have been waiting months for their documents. The initiative is expected to benefit thousands of Nigerians seeking to travel, work, or study abroad. As the team begins operations, more details on timelines and city-specific arrangements will likely be shared through official platforms. This step marks a significant improvement in how Nigeria serves its citizens overseas and signals a proactive approach to immigration challenges.
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