Immigration launches fast-track service for Diaspora Nigerians

Federal Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have launched a special service that enables Nigerians living in foreign countries with expired passports to return home without any hindrance at all ports of entry.

Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Anthony Akuneme, noted that the special fast-track service is part of passport administration and immigration service reforms.

Available from December 12, 2022 to January 31, 2023, the dedicated service allows Nigerian passport holders in the Diaspora to board at their countries of residence and be admitted into Nigeria with their expired international passports.

The service also gives the returnee Nigerians opportunity to renew their Nigerian passports during their stay in the country as part of the multi-layer strategic reforms of passport administration in the country.

Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Isah Idris, had in a circular dated December 9, 2022, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, heads of foreign missions, immigration attaches, airport comptrollers and airlines, stated that the Federal Government approved the special arrangement.

Jere added that all airlines in Nigeria were requested to allow holders of expired Nigerian passports to board without hindrance, while Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad were requested to circulate the information to airline operators and border authorities of their host countries for compliance.

In the same vein, Akuneme, a Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, said dedicated Diaspora desks had been set up at all international airports across the country to ensure hassle-free passage for Nigerians returning home from abroad. He added that the CGI had also directed Passport Control Offices to accord priority to the returnees and their families bearing in mind that most of them have specific time they must return to their countries of residence after their holiday in Nigeria.

He encouraged Nigerians in the Diaspora to take advantage of the Federal Government’s kind gesture, while stating that applicants for the new enhanced Nigerian e-Passport, whose biometrics had been captured at the NIS offices at the Nigerian missions in their respective countries of residence, do not have to start fresh application.

While restating that the procedure for application and processing of Nigerian passport has been simplified and faster, he said all that fresh applicants are required to do is login to NIS website, https://www.passport.immigration.gov.ng and apply online.

According to him, the application process includes making payment for preferred passport type via approved payment platforms, after which they are to visit the passport office of their choice indicated on the application form, taking along with them the required documents, including the National Identity Number (NIN), which is mandatory.

The spokesperson urged applicants interested in taking advantage of the special window to visit their selected passport office between Monday and Wednesday each week throughout the special window – December 12, 2022 to January 31, 2023, for further information.

Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, commended the NIS boss for launching a dedicated service to meet the needs of Nigerians returning home from abroad, saying the step would go a long way in easing the burden of citizens coming back home to celebrate the Yuletide.

The Federal Government’s commitment to improve passport and immigration services in the country has resulted in the implementation of several reforms, including rollout of enhanced e-Passport with Polycarbonate Data Page and 25 security features, improved online passport application process and improved secured payment solutions that eliminate touting.

Others include online appointment-based enrolment for passport after payment, opening of centralised passport production centres in Ibadan and Enugu to uptake availability of passport booklets, as well as opening of passport front offices in Alimosho (Lagos State), Daura (Katsina State), Oyo (Oyo State), and Zaria (Kaduna State).