The Federal Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), in continuation of the implementation of passport administration and immigration service reforms, have launched a special fast-track service that enables Nigerians with expired passports living in foreign countries to return home without any hindrance at all ports of entry.

The ongoing dedicated diasporan service available from the 12th of December 2022 to the 31st of January 2023 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, which will be available for two months, 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, Isah Jere Idris, had in a circular dated December 9, 2022, forwarded to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, all Heads of Foreign Missions, all Immigration Attaches, all Airport Comptrollers and all airlines, stated that the special arrangement was approved by the Federal Government.

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

Speaking further, Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Anthony N. Akuneme, a Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, said dedicated Diaspora Desks had been set up at all international airports across the country to ensure Nigerians returning home from abroad have hassle-free passage.

He added that the Comptroller General of Immigration had also directed Passport Control Offices to accord priority to the returnees and their families bearing in mind that most of them have a specific time they must return to their countries of residence after their holiday in Nigeria.

Akuneme 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 did not have to start the fresh application.

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

He added that the application process includes making payment for the 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 among other necessary documents.

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

Akuneme reiterated that the supply of NIN was mandatory for issuance of the enhanced e-Passport, while also advising passport applicants to ensure their personal information in the application form and NIN match as any mismatch of information would render their application incomplete and would not be processed.

Chairman, of 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 to ease the burden of citizens coming back home to celebrate the yuletide.

She assured her commission’s willingness to collaborate with any government agency working to make life more comfortable for Nigerians living abroad.

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

Others are online appointment-based enrolment for passports after payment, the 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) among other reforms.