The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced provisional locations, venues and dates for its planned passport intervention exercise for Nigerians living in the United Kingdom.
The exercise is aimed at addressing pending passport applications and improving access to passport services for Nigerians in the diaspora.
The NIS said the intervention followed the deployment of a dedicated Passport Intervention Team from its headquarters in Abuja to the UK, on the directive of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The announcement is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to address complaints over delays in passport processing and make the process easier for Nigerians living outside the country.
In a public statement issued on Monday and signed by the NIS Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, the service provided details of the planned exercise and explained how the locations and venues were selected.
The statement said the provisional locations, venues and dates were arrived at after consultations with the High Commission of Nigeria in the UK and representatives of Nigerian communities.
“Sequel to the earlier announcement on the deployment of a Passport Intervention Team from the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters, Abuja, to the United Kingdom, on the directive of the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Service hereby informs the public that,” the statement said.
The NIS added that the locations and dates were selected following consultations with the Nigerian High Commission and representatives of Nigerian communities in the UK.
The latest announcement follows an earlier statement by the Immigration Service on August 9, 2026, when it disclosed plans to send a special team to the United Kingdom.
The team was established specifically to attend to pending passport applications and streamline passport services for Nigerians living in the country.
Passport processing has remained an important issue for Nigerians in the diaspora, as valid Nigerian passports are required for international travel, identification and several official transactions.
Delays in obtaining or renewing passports can create difficulties for Nigerians who need to travel urgently, renew residence documents or meet other legal and administrative requirements in their countries of residence.
The intervention exercise is therefore expected to provide relief to applicants whose passport applications have remained pending.
Rather than requiring affected Nigerians to travel to Nigeria to resolve passport-related issues, the deployment of the intervention team will bring additional processing capacity to the UK.
The exercise also reflects the Federal Government’s wider focus on improving services for Nigerians living abroad.
Nigerians in the diaspora contribute significantly to the country through remittances, investments, skills and other forms of support. They also frequently require government services, including passport issuance and renewal.
The NIS has in recent years introduced measures aimed at improving passport processing, including efforts to reduce delays, expand service points and improve the use of technology in applications.
However, demand for passports has continued to grow, both within Nigeria and among Nigerians living abroad.
The UK is home to a large Nigerian community, making passport services there particularly important.
The intervention exercise is expected to focus on applications that have already been submitted but remain unresolved, although applicants may also receive guidance on other passport-related matters during the exercise.
The NIS, however, described the locations, venues and dates as provisional, meaning applicants are expected to pay attention to further announcements from the service in case there are changes.
The involvement of the Nigerian High Commission and community representatives in selecting the venues is also intended to make the exercise more accessible to Nigerians in different parts of the UK.
The NIS said the consultations were carried out before the provisional arrangements were made.
The deployment of the intervention team is being carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior, which oversees the Immigration Service.
Tunji-Ojo has repeatedly stressed the need to improve the delivery of government services and reduce delays that affect Nigerians.
The ministry has also placed emphasis on reforms in agencies under its supervision, including the use of technology and better service delivery.
For the Immigration Service, passport issuance is one of its most visible responsibilities.
A Nigerian passport serves as the main travel document for citizens travelling outside the country. It is also frequently required by Nigerians living abroad when dealing with immigration authorities, banks, employers and other institutions.
Any prolonged delay in obtaining the document can therefore have serious consequences for applicants.
The UK intervention is expected to help the NIS deal with some of the outstanding cases while also identifying areas where passport services can be improved.
Applicants who have pending applications are advised to monitor official communications from the NIS and the Nigerian High Commission for information on the exercise.
They are also expected to follow any instructions regarding appointments, required documents and other conditions for participation.
The NIS has not indicated that the intervention exercise will permanently replace existing passport services in the UK.
Rather, the deployment is a special measure designed to address pending applications and improve service delivery.
The move is also expected to reduce pressure on existing passport processing channels and allow officials to concentrate on applications that have experienced delays.
For Nigerians in the UK, the exercise could provide an opportunity to resolve long-standing passport issues without the cost and inconvenience of travelling to Nigeria.
The service is expected to release further information as arrangements for the intervention are finalised.
The NIS urged members of the public to rely on official information and avoid unverified messages concerning the exercise.
The announcement of the provisional venues and dates marks the next stage in the Federal Government’s effort to respond to passport-related concerns among Nigerians in the UK.
With a dedicated team now deployed from Abuja and the exercise organised in consultation with the Nigerian High Commission and community representatives, the authorities hope to clear outstanding applications and make passport services more efficient for Nigerians living in Britain.