NIS enrols 8,552 Nigerians in overseas passport intervention

The Nigeria Immigration Service has enrolled 8,552 Nigerians in passport intervention exercises conducted in the United States, Canada, Qatar and the United Kingdom.

The NIS disclosed this in a statement signed by its Service Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, on Monday.

According to the statement, the exercises, undertaken in line with the directive of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, were part of efforts to improve passport service delivery to Nigerians in the diaspora and to bring passport services closer to Nigerians living in the diaspora.

The Service said the interventions were conducted in collaboration with Nigerian diplomatic missions and representatives of Nigerian communities in the affected countries.

Giving a breakdown of the figures, Akinlabi said 535 Nigerians were enrolled during the exercise held in Chicago, Michigan and Milwaukee in the United States between September 7 and 15, 2026.

In Canada, 2,257 Nigerians were enrolled in exercises held in Manitoba, Toronto, Saskatoon, Alberta and New Brunswick between September 6 and 19.

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The NIS said 751 Nigerians were enrolled in Qatar during the exercise conducted between August 9 and 24.

The United Kingdom recorded the highest number of enrolments, with 5,099 Nigerians registered in London and Manchester during the ongoing exercise.

The Service said the registration was still ongoing in the UK, “with passport production and dispatch being carried out concurrently.”

It said, “Accordingly, applicants who were unable to secure appointment slots during the exercise, as well as those who may prefer not to physically visit the centres or the High Commission, are encouraged to utilise the Contactless Passport Application System.”

It reiterated its commitment to providing accessible, efficient and timely passport services to Nigerians living outside the country.

Nathaniel Shaibu is a correspondent at The PUNCH with three years of professional journalism experience. He covers the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), civil society, religion, and the Ministries of Women Affairs and Youth Development. In addition to his primary beats, Nathaniel also reports on politics, metro, security, and judicial matters, bringing clarity and balance to a wide range of public-interest stories. His work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, strong beat knowledge, and a commitment to accurate, responsible journalism.