Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Government's much-touted special passport intervention for Nigerians in the United Kingdom has descended into chaos, with a diaspora group accusing the Nigerian High Commission of imposing unauthorised extra charges on applicants, even as the Minister of Interior insists no additional fees have been approved. The Nigerians in Diaspora Civic Forum has alleged that applicants are being forced to pay supplementary charges beyond the official rates of $150 for a five-year passport and $230 for a ten-year passport, exclusive of bank charges.
The Forum, in a statement by its spokesperson, Christopher Babafemi Akinola, absolved the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service of responsibility for the extra fees, pointing squarely at the Nigerian High Commission in London and, by extension, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Passport issuance inside Nigeria is handled by the Interior Ministry. Abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the lead agency, as it controls High Commission premises and holds the consular mandate," the group argued. It claimed that the additional charges, including postal orders payable to the High Commission, originate from the diplomatic mission and are not remitted to the Interior Ministry.
The controversy erupted barely a day after the intervention commenced on Monday, September 7, 2026. The exercise, designed to clear backlogs and fast-track renewals for Nigerians in the UK, was intended to offer a less stressful avenue for obtaining or renewing passports. However, social media was flooded with videos and posts showing applicants locked out of designated centres, facing long delays, and expressing frustration over poor organisation. One video from a centre in Manchester showed a crowd waiting outside a locked entrance, with applicants who had arrived as early as 9:00 a.m. still waiting hours later without being attended to.
The situation took a dramatic turn in London when the owner of the Layali Lounge, a venue rented for the intervention, allegedly locked out applicants and embassy officials over unpaid bills for using the facility. Another video purportedly recorded at the centre showed the venue owner expressing frustration over the lack of security personnel and staff, and telling applicants to leave. An X user claimed the owner contacted the UK police following the disruption and complained about non-payment.
In response to the growing outcry, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo issued a statement on Monday, denying that the government or the NIS had introduced any additional charges. "It is therefore necessary to clarify that this process does not come with extra costs different from the official fees of $150 and $230 for a five-year and 10-year validity passport, respectively, exclusive of bank charges," the statement read. The minister acknowledged the operational friction and assured that consultations were ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the difficulties.
The intervention has also been marred by a sudden change of venue in London. The High Commission sent an urgent email to applicants, shifting the passport capture centre from the Layali Lounge to 56-57 Fleet Street, citing "unforeseen technical challenges". However, reports suggested the change was forced by the eviction of applicants and officials over unpaid rent.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Civic Forum has called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take full responsibility and clarify the circumstances surrounding the charges. It warned that the difficulties currently being experienced by passport applicants in the UK "rest squarely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its mission in London". The group noted that similar interventions have worked successfully in the United States, Canada and other countries, making the situation in the UK a troubling exception.
As Nigerians in the UK continue to grapple with delays, extra fees, and organisational failures, the question remains: will the Federal Government's intervention solve the passport crisis, or will it deepen the frustration of a diaspora already weary of bureaucratic inefficiency?
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments