NIS Extends Diaspora Passport Intervention To US, Canada, Qatar With 8,552 Total Enrolments

The Nigeria Immigration Service has extended its special passport intervention exercise beyond the United Kingdom to Nigerians living in the United States, Canada and Qatar, with enrolments across the four countries now totalling 8,552 applicants.

A statement signed by the Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, said the exercises were conducted in collaboration with Nigerian diplomatic missions and representatives of Nigerian communities to bring passport services closer to applicants in their cities of residence. In the United States, centres in Chicago, Michigan and Milwaukee enrolled 535 applicants between 7 and 15 September. In Canada, centres in Manitoba, Toronto, Saskatoon, Alberta and New Brunswick enrolled 2,257 applicants between 6 and 19 September, while the exercise in Qatar recorded 751 enrolments between 9 and 24 August.

The United Kingdom intervention, which covers London and Manchester, remains ongoing with 5,099 applicants enrolled and passport production and dispatch running at the same time. In an earlier report here, the Service said 516 applicants were enrolled on a single Saturday of the UK exercise, bringing that total to 5,099.

The Service said applicants who were unable to secure appointment slots during the exercises, and those who prefer not to visit the centres or the High Commission, can use the Contactless Passport Application System. The reported figures cover enrolments during the exercises, and applicants are advised to follow the appointment and document instructions issued by the mission handling their application as production and delivery continue.

Sources: Punch, The Nation, Peoples Gazette, Voice of Nigeria