The Nigerian Embassy in Doha has issued 751 newly produced passports to Nigerians in Qatar, just two weeks after a passport intervention exercise organised to address outstanding applications and renewals.
The intervention exercise was held from August 11 to 21 as part of efforts to improve consular services and reduce the backlog of Nigerians awaiting new passports or renewals.
The embassy said the 751 passports were successfully produced and delivered to applicants following the exercise, with the turnaround described as a significant development in efforts to improve service delivery to Nigerians residing in Qatar.
Speaking on the development, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Qatar, Mahmood Yakubu, said the timely production and distribution of the passports reflected the embassy’s commitment to providing more efficient consular services.
Of the 751 applicants who received their passports, 441 were issued five-year passports, while 310 received passports valid for 10 years.
Yakubu stressed the importance of passports to Nigerians living abroad, noting that the document is essential for international travel and can also be required for employment, residency and other official purposes.
He said the embassy recognised the difficulties that delays in passport processing could create for Nigerians abroad and pledged that efforts would continue to improve the efficiency, timeliness and transparency of consular services.
Passport intervention exercises are conducted by the Nigeria Immigration Service in collaboration with Nigerian diplomatic missions to address backlogs of passport applications and renewals among Nigerians living outside the country.
Such exercises provide applicants with an opportunity to complete outstanding processes and enable immigration officials to process a large number of applications within a designated period.
The latest exercise in Doha is part of broader efforts by Nigerian diplomatic missions to improve services for citizens in the diaspora and reduce delays associated with passport issuance.
The embassy’s delivery of the 751 passports within two weeks is expected to provide relief to applicants who had been waiting for their documents, particularly those whose travel, employment or residency arrangements may depend on valid passports.
Yakubu reiterated the embassy’s commitment to maintaining efficient and transparent services for Nigerians in Qatar.
He also encouraged Nigerians to make use of official consular channels for passport-related applications and services in order to obtain accurate information and avoid unnecessary delays.
The development underscores the importance of continued collaboration between Nigerian diplomatic missions and the Nigeria Immigration Service in improving documentation services for Nigerians abroad.
Deborah Adeyefa
