NIS ENROLS 8,552 NIGERIANS IN PASSPORT INTERVENTION

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

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

According to the Service, the exercises were carried out following the directive of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as part of efforts to improve passport services for Nigerians living abroad.

The intervention exercises were also aimed at bringing passport services closer to Nigerians in the diaspora and reducing the challenges associated with accessing the service.

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

A breakdown provided by the Service showed that 535 Nigerians were enrolled during the exercise conducted in Chicago, Michigan and Milwaukee in the United States between September 7 and 15, 2026.

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

The NIS also recorded 751 enrolments in Qatar during the intervention exercise conducted between August 9 and 24.

The United Kingdom recorded the highest number of applicants, with 5,099 Nigerians enrolled in London and Manchester.

The Service said the exercise was still ongoing in the UK, with passport production and dispatch taking place at the same time.

The NIS noted that Nigerians who could not secure appointment slots during the intervention exercises still had other options for accessing passport services.

It encouraged such applicants, as well as those who preferred not to visit the centres or the Nigerian High Commission physically, to use the Contactless Passport Application System.

The Service said the initiative was part of its broader efforts to make passport services more accessible, efficient and timely for Nigerians living outside the country.

The NIS reiterated its commitment to improving passport service delivery and ensuring that Nigerians in the diaspora can access the necessary services more conveniently.