In a significant move to address the challenges faced by Nigerians abroad in renewing their passports, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced the upcoming establishment of passport front offices in major cities across the United Kingdom.
The initiative, slated for launch in February 2024, aims to alleviate the difficulties encountered by Nigerians, particularly those residing in cities like London and New York, where the concentration of Nigerians has posed logistical challenges.
During an exclusive interview on the Tuesday edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, Minister Tunji-Ojo candidly acknowledged the existing hurdles faced by Nigerians in the diaspora.
He identified London and New York as the primary locations grappling with passport renewal challenges, emphasizing the need for a strategic solution to accommodate the growing demands.
Elaborating on the situation in the UK, the minister highlighted that viral cases of complications in passport renewals were concentrated in cities like London.
In response to this, he outlined the government’s plan to establish passport front offices in key cities, including Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff in Wales, and Scotland.
Acknowledging the absence of a quick fix, Minister Tunji-Ojo assured Nigerians that by February of the following year, tangible progress would be witnessed.
“Once we have these front offices in place, it will not only alleviate the stress on Nigerians but also reduce the waiting period, ultimately enhancing efficiency in the passport procurement system,” he asserted.
The minister emphasized the root cause of the problem, citing the existence of only one passport office in the entire United Kingdom.
He pointed out that Nigerians residing in far-flung cities like Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Manchester, or Birmingham were compelled to travel to London for passport services.
In light of this, the upcoming initiative aims to decentralize passport services, providing convenient access to those in various regions.
Highlighting the magnitude of the Nigerian diaspora in the UK, Minister Tunji-Ojo stressed the importance of assessing the immigration office’s capacity to cater to the growing demand for passports.
“We need to understand how many people are requesting passports and determine the capacity of the immigration office to handle these requests on a daily basis,” he stated.
As the government gears up to open passport front offices in key cities across the UK, this move is poised to not only streamline the passport renewal process but also enhance the overall experience for Nigerians in the diaspora, marking a significant step towards efficient consular services.
