By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has applauded the Nigerian Immigration Service’s (NIS) plans to ease the passport renewal process for Nigerians living abroad with the launch of a contactless passport application solution in Europe.
The initiative, set to officially commence on 7 February 2025, will have the United Kingdom serve as the coordinating centre for the region.
Comptroller General of the NIS, Kemi Nanna Nandap, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking on the initiative, Nandap explained that the contactless passport solution is designed to revolutionise how Nigerians in the diaspora renew their passports by enabling them to complete the process entirely online from the comfort of their homes.
“This initiative, set for launch on 7 February 2025, will enable Nigerians in the diaspora to apply for and renew their passports online without needing to visit an embassy or consulate physically,” she said. “It is designed to save time, reduce costs associated with travel, and simplify the entire process.”
However, she clarified that this service is currently limited to passport renewals only, excluding new applicants and minors. Nigerians living abroad can begin renewing their passports up to one year before their expiration date under this system.
She stressed that this innovation aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to make life easier for Nigerians living overseas. She also revealed that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has approved the establishment of a passport processing facility in New York to address backlogs and improve service delivery for Nigerians in the United States.
“Plans are already underway to open more passport front offices in other parts of the U.S. and other countries,” she added, underscoring NIS’s commitment to expanding its reach and addressing long-standing challenges faced by Nigerians abroad.
The Comptroller General commended NiDCOM for its unwavering support and advocacy in raising awareness about programmes and policies that impact Nigerians living outside the country. She described NiDCOM as a dependable partner in ensuring that such initiatives gain traction among diaspora communities.
In her remarks, Dabiri-Erewa hailed the contactless passport application solution as a significant step forward in improving service delivery for Nigerians abroad. She noted that this initiative aligns with NiDCOM’s mandate to facilitate engagement with Nigeria’s diaspora communities while addressing their pressing needs.
“The launch of this contactless passport application solution in Europe is a game-changer,” Dabiri-Erewa said. “It represents a significant step towards efficient, secure, and convenient travel document management for Nigerians in the diaspora.”
She assured that NiDCOM would continue to collaborate with NIS to ensure the success of this initiative while monitoring its implementation closely. Dabiri-Erewa also pointed out that a similar contactless system had already been successfully introduced in Canada, where it received widespread commendation from Nigerians living there.
The introduction of this digital solution marks another milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to modernise its public services and engage more effectively with its citizens abroad. With millions of Nigerians residing outside the country, passport renewal has often been a cumbersome process involving long wait times and costly trips to embassies or consulates. This new system aims to eliminate those hurdles by leveraging technology to bring government services closer to citizens.