FG enrols 8,552 passport applicants in UK, US, Canada, Qatar

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By Omeiza Ajayi

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ABUJA: The Federal Government has disclosed that its diaspora passport intervention exercises across the United States of America, Canada and Qatar have collectively enrolled 8,552 applicants, with a similar exercise currently ongoing in the United Kingdom.

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According to a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, the exercises were carried out under the directive of the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as part of efforts to bring passport services closer to Nigerians in the diaspora.

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The statement said the interventions were conducted in collaboration with Nigerian diplomatic missions and representatives of Nigerian communities in the affected countries, to ensure a coordinated and responsive service delivery process.

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“Furthermore, the exercises aimed to bring passport services closer to Nigerians across various cities, and were conducted in collaboration with Nigerian diplomatic missions and representatives of Nigerian communities in the aforementioned countries, to ensure a coordinated and responsive Service Delivery process. Thousands of Nigerians have benefited from these exercises,” the statement read.

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A breakdown released by the Service showed that the exercise in the United States, covering Chicago, Michigan and Milwaukee, ran from 7th to 15th September 2026 and enrolled 535 applicants, while the Canadian leg, which covered Manitoba, Toronto, Saskatoon, Alberta and New Brunswick, held between 6th and 19th September 2026 and recorded the highest turnout among the completed exercises, with 2,257 applicants enrolled. The Qatar intervention, which covered enrolment between 9th and 24th August 2026, recorded 751 applicants, while the ongoing United Kingdom exercise, covering London and Manchester, had so far enrolled 5,099 applicants as at the time of the statement, bringing the cumulative total across all four countries to 8,552.

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The Service said the United Kingdom exercise, which is still in progress, involves passport production and dispatch being carried out concurrently to ensure timely delivery of documents to applicants.

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The United Kingdom leg of the exercise followes an earlier deployment announced by the NIS, under which a dedicated Passport Intervention Team from its headquarters was sent to the United Kingdom on the directive of Tunji-Ojo to the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, arriving in the country on 10th August 2026 to work with the Nigerian High Commission in clearing pending, new and renewal passport applications.

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That earlier notice had explained that the team would visit designated cities across the United Kingdom for enrolment and processing, and had advised applicants with pending applications, new applicants, and holders of passports with less than one year to expiry to prepare their completed forms and proof of payment ahead of enrolment.

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It also cautioned against attending any location until an official schedule was communicated through the Nigerian High Commission’s channels.

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The Service reiterated its commitment to responsive and accessible passport services for Nigerians in the diaspora, and to ensuring timely, efficient and convenient service delivery.

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“The Nigeria Immigration Service reiterates its commitment to responsive and accessible passport services for Nigerians in the diaspora and to ensuring timely, efficient and convenient Service Delivery,” the statement said.

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It added that all digital passport application channels, including the Contactless Passport Application System, would remain fully operational alongside the existing home delivery service throughout the period of the interventions.

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