Nigerians in the UK protest passport renewal delays, calling on the interior minister to act.

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Nigerians residing in the United Kingdom have voiced strong dissatisfaction with the ongoing challenges of renewing international passports and securing new ones for their children. They claim that, despite recent reforms introduced by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the process has become increasingly difficult.

Applicants allege that immigration officials have created bottlenecks that render passport applications and renewals nearly impossible. This occurs even as the government rolled out a contactless renewal system intended to simplify the procedure for Nigerians abroad.

Some applicants report paying over $300 in processing fees without successfully completing their applications.

“It is as if it is a deliberate policy to prevent us from renewing our passports and obtaining them for our children,” said Kilani Ajotena, a Nigerian living in Birmingham.

Fredrick Amaefune of Peterborough said that appointment dates for biometric capture at the Nigerian High Commission in London were being scheduled up to six months in advance.

“That is simply unacceptable. How can our country treat us this way?” he asked, urging the Minister of Interior to intervene.

He noted that the reforms, which were intended to improve service delivery, had instead complicated the process for Nigerians abroad and exposed many to fraudsters.

“Some of us have fallen victim to scammers while trying to renew our passports or obtain new ones for our children,” he added.

Laolu Adetutu, a father based in Northampton, also complained about difficulties in obtaining a National Identification Number (NIN), a key requirement for passport processing. He said he had been unable to complete registration for his three‑year‑old son after months of attempts.

“I have taken my son to the designated centre several times, but after four months, we have still not been able to complete the process,” he said.

He added that his wife’s passport renewal had also stalled since November 2025, describing the situation as frustrating and embarrassing for Nigerians abroad.

“They are deliberately frustrating Nigerians in the UK and creating opportunities for extortion in the passport renewal process,” he alleged.

The affected Nigerians have called on the Minister of Interior to urgently review the reforms, arguing that the current system is not fulfilling its intended purpose and is damaging Nigeria’s reputation overseas.

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