Nigerians in Diaspora urge FG to make passport application process easier

Nigerians in Diaspora (NIDO) Americas has reportedly stressed the need for the Federal Government to streamline the passport application process, to tackle the issue of fake web registration.

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The Chairman of NIDO-Americas, Obed Monago, made the suggestion in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday night.

He spoke on the heels of the red flag raised by the Nigerian Consulate in New York warning against a fake website on registration and renewal of passports.

“It is really unfortunate about what is happening with obtaining Nigerian passport or renewing it.

“It does appear that some individuals in the Diaspora are capitalizing on the past disconnected and unconnected activities at some of our missions abroad to swindle others.

“The New York consulate just put out a public notice about an illegal website, setup by some mischief makers to swindle others.

“Government and the diplomatic missions abroad should work hard to streamline their activities, so that when one applies for a passport, one gets it and as when due.

 “This way, there will be no room for such illegal practices to prosper. We seriously need to simplify the process and bring it at par with other countries”, Monago said

Meanwhile, many Nigerians abroad have remained stranded due to the non-replacement of their international passports months after they expired.

One of the concerned Nigerians based in Belize has reportedly said that he completed the process of renewing his passport over three months ago but was yet to get the document.

“Belize is covered by the Nigerian Mission in Jamaica. The officers from Jamaica came to capture the details of passport renewal applicants in Belize City as far back as June 8, 2021. We are yet to get our passports.

“What is happening? No one is talking to us. How can we get it soon? Many of us are stranded as we cannot travel with expired passports,” the applicant, who did not want to be named, told Tribune Online.

It will be recalled that the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, sometime ago had announced that Nigerians in the Diaspora who arrived in the country on expired passports could have their passports renewed immediately at the airports.

“Nigerians who arrive in the country on expired passports can have their passports renewed immediately,” said the minister. He said the establishment of front offices for the renewal had been approved at four international airports,

The minister gave the assurance at a webinar organised by Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) recently.

He said the establishment of front offices had been approved at Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt airports to help Nigerians “who arrive the country on expired passports to have their passports renewed immediately”.

“It is in this regard that the NIS recently granted a waiver for Nigerians with expired passports desirous of coming to Nigeria to do so without fear of harassment by airlines,” the minister said.

He, however, gave no commencement date for the measure.