NIS Extends UK Passport Exercise To October 3 After Applicants’ Complaints
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has extended its special passport intervention exercise in the United Kingdom by two weeks following complaints from Nigerians over delays and difficulties encountered during the exercise.
The extension, approved under the directive of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, will see the exercise in London and Manchester continue until October 3, 2026.
The intervention was initially scheduled to run from September 19, but the Immigration Service said the extension became necessary because of the high turnout and growing demand from Nigerians seeking to obtain or renew their passports.
In a statement signed by the NIS national spokesperson, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, the agency acknowledged that the exercise experienced some challenges on its first day but said operations had since progressed smoothly.
According to the Service, 1,477 Nigerians were successfully processed and enrolled within the first four days of the exercise.
It added that more than half of those enrolled had already had their passports produced and dispatched to their respective addresses.
The NIS said the extension was aimed at creating additional capacity and ensuring that more eligible applicants could be attended to.
The Service urged applicants to adhere to the appointment system, stressing that eligible Nigerians must book appointments and present the required documents at their scheduled dates.
The development is expected to provide relief for Nigerians in the UK who had expressed concerns over delays in biometric capturing and other difficulties associated with the passport intervention exercise.
The extension, approved under the directive of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, will see the exercise in London and Manchester continue until October 3, 2026.
The intervention was initially scheduled to run from September 19, but the Immigration Service said the extension became necessary because of the high turnout and growing demand from Nigerians seeking to obtain or renew their passports.
In a statement signed by the NIS national spokesperson, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, the agency acknowledged that the exercise experienced some challenges on its first day but said operations had since progressed smoothly.
According to the Service, 1,477 Nigerians were successfully processed and enrolled within the first four days of the exercise.
It added that more than half of those enrolled had already had their passports produced and dispatched to their respective addresses.
The NIS said the extension was aimed at creating additional capacity and ensuring that more eligible applicants could be attended to.
The Service urged applicants to adhere to the appointment system, stressing that eligible Nigerians must book appointments and present the required documents at their scheduled dates.
The development is expected to provide relief for Nigerians in the UK who had expressed concerns over delays in biometric capturing and other difficulties associated with the passport intervention exercise.
