UK-based Nigerians decry Internarional Passport renewal delays, alleges deliberate frustration by NIS, Interior Ministry

By Johnson Arua

Nigerians living in the United Kingdom have expressed frustration over persistent difficulties in renewing their international passports and obtaining new ones for their children, accusing the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) of making the process increasingly cumbersome.

The affected citizens said recent reforms introduced by the NIS, including the contactless passport application system, have failed to ease the process and have instead worsened their experiences.

Some applicants claimed they paid more than $300 in fees but were unable to complete the documentation process due to technical glitches and administrative bottlenecks.

A Birmingham-based Nigerian, Kilani Ajotena, alleged that the situation appeared to be a deliberate attempt to frustrate Nigerians abroad.

"It is as if it is a deliberate policy to prevent us from renewing our passports or obtaining new ones for our children. This is not how a country treats its citizens who contribute significantly to the economy through diaspora remittances," Ajotena said.

Similarly, Frederick Amaefune, who lives in Peterborough, said some applicants were being given appointments as far as six months away for biometric capture at the Nigerian High Commission in London.

"That is simply unacceptable. How can our country treat us this way? The Minister of Interior must rise to the occasion because these policies are clearly not working," he said.

Amaefune noted that prior to the recent reforms, Nigerians in the diaspora could renew their passports with relative ease after paying the required fees.

"These reforms have made life difficult for us. Some people have even fallen victim to scammers while trying to renew their passports or secure new ones for their children," he added.

He questioned the rationale behind the changes, asking whether the reforms were introduced to deliberately frustrate Nigerians living overseas, particularly those in the UK.

For Laolu Adetutu, a father of two residing in Northampton, securing a National Identification Number (NIN) for his three-year-old son has become a major hurdle.

According to him, he began the process of obtaining a Nigerian passport for his son months ago but has been unable to complete the mandatory NIN registration despite repeated visits to the designated centre.

"I have taken my son for NIN registration several times over the past four months, but we have not been able to complete the process," Adetutu said.

"My wife's passport expired last November, and all efforts to renew it have been unsuccessful."

He alleged that the challenges had created opportunities for exploitation and extortion, leaving many Nigerians abroad feeling embarrassed.

"It is disheartening when our friends from other countries see what we are going through. They laugh at us and make mockery of our country," he said.

Adetutu called on the Minister of Interior to review the passport reforms and address the concerns of Nigerians in the diaspora.

"The current system is not working. It has made life difficult for Nigerians abroad and reflects poorly on the present administration," he added.