More than 8,500 Nigerians living abroad have been enrolled in recent passport intervention exercises carried out across the United States, Canada, Qatar, and the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom recorded the largest share of applicants, with 5,099 citizens registered in London and Manchester during the ongoing exercise. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) noted that registration remains underway in the UK, “with passport production and dispatch being carried out concurrently.” To assist those unable to attend in person, the Service added, “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.”
Across North America and the Middle East, thousands more were captured in the registration drive. In Canada, 2,257 Nigerians were enrolled across Manitoba, Toronto, Saskatoon, Alberta, and New Brunswick between 6 September and 19 September. A further 751 citizens were registered in Qatar between 9 August and 24 August, whilst the US exercise—covering Chicago, Michigan, and Milwaukee from 7 September to 15 September—saw 535 enrollments.
The figures were released on Monday in an official statement by the Service Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi. He explained that the initiative was executed in partnership with Nigerian diplomatic missions and local community representatives in the host nations.
Undertaken on the instructions of Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the special operations form part of broader measures to bring passport processing closer to citizens overseas and enhance overall delivery. The NIS reaffirmed its commitment to delivering efficient, accessible, and prompt passport facilities to Nigerians residing internationally.