The Federal Government has deployed a dedicated NIS passport intervention team to the UK to clear pending applications and process new and renewal requests.

The Federal Government has deployed a dedicated passport intervention team to the United Kingdom to address a backlog of pending applications and process new and renewal requests from Nigerians in the diaspora.

The team was dispatched by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on the directive of Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and is scheduled to arrive in the UK on Monday, where it will work with the Nigerian High Commission to facilitate passport enrolment and processing across designated cities.

Who can apply and what to bring

The intervention is open to three categories of applicants: those with pending passport applications, new applicants who have not yet enrolled, and holders of passports with less than one year before expiry who wish to apply for renewal.

Applicants are required to present their completed application forms and proof of payment during enrolment. No walk-in without documentation will be accepted.

Wait for the official schedule before travelling to any venue

The NIS issued a direct warning to Nigerians in the UK not to proceed to any location until the detailed schedule has been officially released. The schedule, which will include designated cities, dates, venues, enrolment times and other logistical arrangements, will be published through the official communication channels of the Nigerian High Commission in the UK.

The service urged applicants to monitor those channels closely for further details before making any travel arrangements to enrolment centres.

Why this matters for Nigerians in the UK

Passport delays have been a persistent source of frustration for Nigerians in the diaspora, with many reporting waiting periods that stretch beyond acceptable timelines and leave them unable to travel, renew residency documentation, or access services that require a valid passport. The deployment of a dedicated intervention team, rather than relying solely on the High Commission’s standard processing capacity, signals that the ministry is treating the backlog as an urgent consular matter requiring direct federal intervention.

The NIS said a detailed schedule would be released imminently and reiterated that applicants should await that communication before proceeding to any designated venue.