FG orders Immigration Service to deploy special team to UK for passport issuance

The Federal Government has directed the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs Kemi Nanna Nandap, to immediately deploy a dedicated team to the United Kingdom to ease the processing and issuance of passports to Nigerians. The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, issued the directive as part of ongoing efforts to streamline passport services for Nigerians living in the diaspora.

In a statement issued by the NIS Public Relations Department in Abuja, the minister directed that the intervention team be selected from the Service’s headquarters. The team was scheduled to arrive in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2026, and will work with the Nigerian High Commission to facilitate the processing and issuance of pending, new and renewal passport applications.

As part of the exercise, the team will visit designated cities across the United Kingdom to conduct passport enrolment and processing, allowing eligible applicants in different parts of the country to access the service. The NIS said the intervention is open to applicants with pending passport applications, new applicants and holders of passports with less than one year remaining before expiry who wish to renew their documents.

“Applicants are to present their completed application forms and proof of payment during enrolment,” the Service said. The NIS said the detailed schedule for the intervention, including the designated cities, dates, venues, enrolment times and other arrangements, would be announced separately.

It advised applicants not to visit any location until the relevant schedule has been officially communicated and urged them to monitor the official communication channels of the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom for further information.

For enquiries or complaints, applicants can contact [email protected] or the NIS WhatsApp-only line on +234 916 087 8000. The Service also said all its digital passport application channels, including the Contactless Passport Application System, remain fully operational during the intervention exercise.

The home delivery service will also remain available to applicants. The Nigeria Immigration Service said the intervention is part of its commitment to providing efficient, transparent and responsive passport services to Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora.