Lagos, Feb. 7, 2025 – Nigeria’s contactless passport application system will start in Europe today, Friday.
The new system, which will allow Nigerians in the Diaspora to renew their passports online, will become operational from today, Friday, in the United Kingdom as the coordinating centre.
Kemi Nandap, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), said the initiative was intended to simplify passport renewal process for Nigerians abroad, saving time and reducing travel costs.
Nandap made the explanation during a courtesy visit to Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chief Executive of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
She said the system would only be for passport renewal and not applicable to first-time applicants or minors.
Nandap, in a statement signed by the NiDCOM spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, had approved a new passport processing facility in New York to address backlogs, while additional offices would be opened in the U.S. and other countries.
She commended NiDCOM for its role in creating awareness about programmess that benefit Nigerians in the diaspora.
Dabiri-Erewa commended the development, describing it as a significant step towards more efficient and secure passport processing for Nigerians overseas.
“The launch of the contactless passport application solution in Europe is a significant step towards efficient, secure, and convenient travel document management for Nigerians in the diaspora.
“NiDCOM will continue to support, monitor and collaborate with the NIS to ensure the success of this initiative” the NiDCOM boss was quoted saying. (GBN)
