Odita Sunday 
Immigration Service Reaches 8,552 Nigerians Abroad With Passport Intervention Exercises
By Odita Sunday
At least 8,552 Nigerians living in the United States, Canada, Qatar and the United Kingdom have benefited from targeted passport intervention exercises organised by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to bring passport services closer to citizens in the diaspora.
In a statement issued on 21st September 2026, the Service Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, said the intervention exercises were undertaken as part of the NIS commitment to improving passport service delivery to Nigerians abroad.
The exercises, carried out under the directive of the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, were conducted in collaboration with Nigerian diplomatic missions and representatives of Nigerian communities in the affected countries.
The United Kingdom recorded the highest number of applicants, with 5,099 Nigerians enrolled in the ongoing exercise in London and Manchester.
Canada followed with 2,257 applicants enrolled between 6th and 19th September 2026 across Manitoba, Toronto, Saskatoon, Alberta and New Brunswick.
In the United States of America, 535 Nigerians were enrolled between 7th and 15th September 2026 in Chicago, Michigan and Milwaukee, while 751 applicants were enrolled in Qatar between 9th and 24th August 2026.
The Service said the exercises were designed to make passport services more accessible to Nigerians across different cities, reducing the need for applicants to travel long distances to access the service.
The UK intervention exercise is still ongoing, with passport production and dispatch taking place alongside the enrolment process.
The NIS also advised Nigerians who were unable to secure appointment slots during the exercise, as well as those who would prefer not to visit the centres or the High Commission physically, to make use of the Contactless Passport Application System.
The Service said the intervention exercises reflected its commitment to making passport services more responsive, accessible and convenient for Nigerians living outside the country.
The NIS reiterated its commitment to improving service delivery and ensuring that Nigerians in the diaspora can access passport services in a timely and efficient manner.
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