NIS Enrols 8,552 Nigerians for Passports Abroad

The Nigeria Immigration Service has enrolled 8,552 Nigerians in passport intervention exercises held in the United States, Canada, Qatar and the United Kingdom.

The NIS disclosed this in a statement signed by its Service Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, on Monday.

The Service said the exercises followed a directive from the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as part of efforts to improve passport services for Nigerians living abroad. It said the initiative was designed to make passport services more accessible to Nigerians in the diaspora.

The NIS conducted the exercises in partnership with Nigerian diplomatic missions and representatives of Nigerian communities in the affected countries.

Giving a breakdown of the figures, Akinlabi said 535 Nigerians were enrolled during the exercise held in Chicago, Michigan and Milwaukee in the United States between September 7 and 15, 2026.

In Canada, 2,257 Nigerians were enrolled during exercises held in Manitoba, Toronto, Saskatoon, Alberta and New Brunswick between September 6 and 19. The Service also enrolled 751 Nigerians in Qatar during an exercise conducted between August 9 and 24.

The United Kingdom recorded the highest number of enrolments, with 5,099 Nigerians registered in London and Manchester during the ongoing exercise. The NIS said the exercise was still ongoing in the UK, “with passport production and dispatch being carried out concurrently.”

“Accordingly, applicants who were unable to secure appointment slots during the exercise, as well as those who may prefer not to physically visit the centres or the High Commission, are encouraged to utilise the Contactless Passport Application System,” It added.

The Service reaffirmed its commitment to providing accessible, efficient and timely passport services to Nigerians living outside the country.