The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has extended its ongoing special passport intervention exercise in the United Kingdom to October 3, 2026, following a surge in demand from Nigerian applicants across London and Manchester.
The extension authorised under the directive of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, will officially run from September 19 through October 3.
Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, confirmed in a statement that the exercise is yielding positive results despite early logistical hurdles.
“The exercise is progressing smoothly at the two centres despite initial challenges, with 1,477 Nigerians processed and enrolled within the first four days,” Akinlabi stated. He added that more than half of those processed have already had their passport booklets produced and dispatched.
Addressing concerns regarding fee processing, the Service emphasized its commitment to transparency and efficiency throughout the exercise.
“Passport applications and payments are fully automated and cashless,” Akinlabi reiterated.
The NIS noted that the timeline expansion was necessary to accommodate the heavy influx of applicants in both cities and to ensure all eligible Nigerians in the UK can complete their enrollments seamlessly.
