By Iroyin Yoruba Television
LONDON, United Kingdom — October 23, 2026
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has enrolled a cumulative 14,312 Nigerians in the United Kingdom through its special passport intervention exercise, as authorities continue efforts to address passport application and renewal difficulties affecting Nigerians in the diaspora.
The latest figures, released by the service, show that 404 additional applicants were enrolled across four UK locations during the latest reporting period. The exercise is designed to bring passport services closer to Nigerians living abroad and help applicants obtain or renew their travel documents without having to rely solely on conventional appointment arrangements.
According to the figures, Manchester recorded 157 enrolments, London processed 88 applicants, Aberdeen registered 83, while Cardiff accounted for 74. Together, the four centres contributed to the cumulative total of 14,312 applicants enrolled since the UK exercise began.
The intervention is being implemented by the NIS in collaboration with Nigerian diplomatic missions and representatives of Nigerian communities. The service has described the exercise as an effort to improve access to passport services and respond to sustained demand among Nigerians living in the United Kingdom.
The programme was initially organised around London and Manchester before being expanded to include Aberdeen and Cardiff. The additional locations were introduced following strong demand from Nigerians seeking assistance with passport applications and renewals.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, approved extensions to the exercise, with the latest arrangement extending the programme through October 30, 2026. The service has encouraged eligible applicants to use the available channels and follow the published appointment and documentation requirements.
Applicants are required to prepare the relevant passport application forms, payment evidence, appointment confirmation and other specified documents. Renewal applicants must also provide their existing passports as required by the service’s instructions.
The NIS has stated that applicants who cannot secure an appointment or prefer not to visit one of the intervention centres may use its Contactless Passport Application System, which is intended to provide an alternative route for eligible applicants.
The initiative responds to longstanding complaints about difficulties obtaining and renewing Nigerian passports abroad. Delays can create practical problems for citizens whose documents are approaching expiry or who need valid travel documents for work, education, family commitments and international travel.
For Nigerians living outside the country, access to passport services is an important part of maintaining valid identification and meeting travel requirements. Expired or delayed documents can complicate travel plans and create uncertainty for people who need to move between countries.
The intervention exercise is also part of a wider effort to extend services to Nigerians in different overseas locations. The NIS has reported conducting related passport interventions in the United States, Canada and Qatar.
Across the four countries, the service reported more than 17,404 diaspora passport applications enrolled during approximately two months of operations. The reported figures cover enrolment and processing activity and should not be interpreted as proof that every applicant has already received a completed passport.
The NIS has said passport production and dispatch are continuing alongside registration. The pace at which applicants receive their documents may depend on individual application requirements, verification procedures and delivery arrangements.
The exercise’s success will ultimately be measured by whether applicants receive their passports efficiently and whether the intervention reduces the difficulties that prompted the programme. Clear communication about appointment availability, processing stages and delivery status will remain important to applicants.
With the UK exercise scheduled to run until October 30, Nigerians who still require assistance should consult official NIS and Nigerian High Commission announcements for the latest instructions before attending a centre or submitting an application.
The latest figures demonstrate substantial demand for passport services among Nigerians in the United Kingdom. The remaining challenge is to ensure that enrolment translates into timely passport production and delivery, while maintaining the verification and security procedures required for Nigerian travel documents.