NIS enrols over 5,000 Nigerians in UK passport drive

The Nigeria Immigration Service has enrolled an additional 516 applicants in its ongoing Special Passport Intervention Exercise across centres in London and Manchester, bringing the cumulative total to 5,099 since the programme began.

According to a Day 12 update posted on its X handle on Sunday, NIS said the exercise continued without interruption on Saturday, 19 September 2026.

The Immigration Service said, “The Special Passport Intervention Exercise continued yesterday across the London and Manchester Centers uninterrupted, with a total of 516applicants enrolled, 370 in Manchester and 146 in London.

“This brings the total enrollment since the commencement of the exercise to 5,099 applicants.

It confirmed that passport production and dispatch for previously enrolled applicants are proceeding smoothly.

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“The exercise remains ongoing, and applicants are enjoined to continue cooperating with officials,” NIS added.

The special exercise, launched on 7 September 2026 under the directive of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, aims to clear backlogs of new passport applications, renewals and pending cases for Nigerians in the United Kingdom.

High demand led to an extension of operations in London and Manchester beyond the original mid-September end date.

Eligible applicants are required to book appointments through official channels and present the necessary documentation at the designated centres.

Saheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.

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