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The latest figures represent a significant increase from the 1,477 Nigerians enrolled within the first four days of the intervention, when operations were restricted to London and Manchester.
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The Nigeria Immigration Service has enrolled 14,312 Nigerians in its ongoing special passport intervention exercise in the United Kingdom, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to address passport application backlogs and improve access to travel documents for Nigerians living abroad.
The service disclosed that 404 additional applicants were processed on Wednesday across four designated centres in London, Manchester, Aberdeen and Cardiff, while passport production and dispatch continued alongside fresh registrations.
According to data released by the NIS spokesman, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration Akinsola Akinlabi, on Thursday, the exercise has continued to record significant participation since its commencement in September.
Akinlabi said the intervention remained orderly, adding that immigration officials were working to ensure that applicants received their passports without unnecessary delays.
“A total of 404 applicants were enrolled across all the centres,” he stated in the operational update.
He added, “Cumulative Enrolment: 14,312 applicants. Passport production and dispatch continue unhindered. The exercise remains orderly and well managed.”
A breakdown of Wednesday’s enrolment figures showed that Manchester recorded the highest number of applicants, with 157 Nigerians processed, followed by London with 88 and Aberdeen with 83.
Cardiff recorded 74 applicants during the exercise, reflecting continued demand for passport services across the designated centres.
The latest figures represent a significant increase from the 1,477 Nigerians enrolled within the first four days of the intervention, when operations were restricted to London and Manchester.
In an update issued on September 11, the immigration service announced that more than half of the applicants enrolled during the initial phase had already received passport production and dispatch services.
“Within the first four days of the exercise, a total of 1,477 Nigerians have been successfully processed and enrolled,” the service stated.
It added that over half of the applicants had already had their passports produced and dispatched to their respective addresses.
By September 21, the number of Nigerians enrolled had increased to 5,099, indicating growing participation in the programme.
The sustained demand subsequently prompted the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to approve an extension of the exercise on October 3.
A further extension resulted in the inclusion of Aberdeen and Cardiff, bringing the number of operational centres to four and expanding access to Nigerians residing outside London and Manchester.
Announcing the extension, the NIS explained that the decision followed the high turnout of Nigerians seeking new passports and renewals.
“In view of the high turnout and sustained demand by Nigerians for the Special Passport Intervention Exercise in the United Kingdom, the Nigeria Immigration Service, acting on the directive of the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has extended the exercise to run from 6th to 30th October, 2026,” the statement read.
The service identified the designated centres as 56-57 Fleet Street, Temple, London; Nigerian House, 23 Platt Lane, Manchester; and Hilton Convention Centre, 13 Smithfield Road, Aberdeen, alongside another centre in Cardiff.
The expansion is intended to reduce the difficulties faced by Nigerians who previously had to travel considerable distances to access passport services.
Under the arrangement, applicants are required to schedule appointments through the NIS JotForm portal or the Nigerian High Commission website before visiting any of the designated centres.
The required documents include completed passport application forms, evidence of payment, intervention appointment printouts and self-addressed return envelopes.
Applicants seeking renewals must also present their existing passports for the necessary processing.
The immigration service fixed the applicable fees at $162 for a five-year passport booklet and $242 for a 10-year booklet, with payments restricted to non-cash transactions.
Beyond the United Kingdom, the NIS has implemented similar passport intervention programmes in the United States, Canada and Qatar as part of efforts to improve consular services for Nigerians in the diaspora.
Figures released by the service showed that 535 Nigerians were enrolled in the United States between September 7 and 15 across Chicago, Michigan and Milwaukee.
In Canada, 2,257 applicants were processed between September 6 and 19 across Manitoba, Toronto, Saskatoon, Alberta and New Brunswick.
Similarly, 751 Nigerians were enrolled in Qatar between August 9 and 24 under the intervention programme.
The figures indicate that at least 17,855 Nigerians have been enrolled across the four countries, highlighting the scale of demand for passport services among citizens living overseas.
Akinlabi explained that the interventions were designed to make passport processing more accessible while strengthening collaboration between immigration officials and Nigerian diplomatic missions.
“The exercises aimed to bring passport services closer to Nigerians across various cities, and were conducted in collaboration with Nigerian diplomatic missions and representatives of Nigerian communities,” he stated.
The United Kingdom intervention followed persistent complaints by Nigerians over delays in obtaining and renewing passports through the Nigerian High Commission in London.
For years, applicants have raised concerns about limited appointment opportunities, lengthy processing periods and difficulties accessing immigration services, particularly for those living far from London.
The situation has reportedly left some Nigerians with expired passports, creating difficulties for international travel and other activities requiring valid identification documents.
The special intervention was initially announced on August 9 through a circular issued by the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mrs Kemi Nandap.
Under the arrangement, a dedicated immigration team was deployed to the United Kingdom on August 10 to work with officials of the Nigerian High Commission in addressing outstanding applications.
The exercise was designed to accommodate pending applications, new passport requests and renewals for documents with less than one year before expiration.
Nandap also encouraged Nigerians unable to secure physical appointments to explore the NIS Contactless Passport Application System.
According to the service, the contactless platform remains operational alongside the physical intervention, allowing eligible applicants to pursue passport services without visiting designated enrolment centres.
The ongoing exercise is scheduled to end on October 30, 2026, as immigration authorities continue processing applications and dispatching completed passports to Nigerians across the United Kingdom.
