The Federal Government has dispatched a dedicated Passport Intervention Team to the United Kingdom, part of a broader effort to ease the persistent frustration many Nigerians abroad have faced trying to obtain or renew their passports.
According to the Nigeria Immigration Service, the deployment follows a directive from Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to Comptroller General of Immigration Kemi Nandap. The team is set to arrive in the UK on August 10, 2026, where it will work alongside the Nigerian High Commission to process a backlog of pending applications alongside new submissions and renewals.
Rather than confining the exercise to a single location, the intervention is designed to reach applicants across multiple parts of the country. “As part of the exercise, the intervention team will visit designated cities across the United Kingdom to conduct passport enrolment and processing, thereby enabling eligible applicants in different parts of the country to access the exercise,” the statement said.
The initiative covers three categories of applicants: those with passport applications already pending, individuals applying for the first time, and current passport holders whose documents have less than a year remaining before expiry and wish to renew. Anyone hoping to take part will need to bring their completed application forms along with proof of payment when they show up for enrolment.
Importantly, the NIS has not yet released specifics on where or when the team will actually be available, and it’s urging patience on that front. The detailed schedule, including exact cities, dates, venues, and enrolment windows, will be announced through a separate communication. In the meantime, the Service was direct in cautioning applicants against showing up anywhere prematurely. “Applicants are therefore advised not to attend any location until the relevant schedule has been officially communicated and to monitor the official communication channels of the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom for further details,” the statement said.
For those with questions or concerns about the exercise, the NIS has set up dedicated contact channels: an email address at passport.london@immigration.gov.ng and a WhatsApp-only line at +234 916 087 8000.
The Service also confirmed that its existing digital infrastructure won’t be disrupted during the intervention, with the Contactless Passport Application System and home delivery service both remaining fully operational throughout. “The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to efficient, transparent and responsive passport service delivery to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora,” the statement concluded.
