Nigerians living in the United States, under the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN), have called on the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to address the persistent passport printing crisis at Nigerian consulates in New York and Atlanta.

In a statement signed by its president, Olutomi Aregbesola, the group lamented the system’s inefficiency, saying it has caused significant hardship.

“The New York Consulate serves the largest jurisdiction of Nigerians in the U.S., yet it lacks a passport printer. This is unacceptable in 2025,” Aregbesola stated.

The OAN criticised the refusal to redeploy a spare printer from the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., describing the decision as lacking logic and foresight.

“This reasoning defies logic and reflects a lack of informed and strategic decision-making,” Aregbesola said.

The group urged the government to act swiftly, noting that the ongoing delays impose unnecessary expenses, security risks, and disruptions for Nigerians needing passports for emergencies, work, and family obligations.

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Meanwhile, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in a public notice issued on Sunday, 19th, January 2025, on X, said it was upgrading its passport portal while assuring the public that other services, including passport applications for Nigerians abroad, remain fully operational during the maintenance period.

The service stated that its team is “working tirelessly” to complete the upgrade and restore full functionality to the portal within 72 hours.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and deeply appreciate your patience and understanding,” the statement read, adding that the upgrade is part of efforts to enhance service delivery.

The NIS reaffirmed its commitment to providing efficient and excellent services to Nigerians at home and abroad.