The source said the congestion and the difficulties being experienced by applicants at the intervention centers were the consequence of the decision to accommodate much more applications than the agreed daily capacity for the centers.
An official of the Nigeria High Commission in the United Kingdom has accused the mission of allegedly duping Nigerians who want to obtain or renew their passports by charging applicants £70 and allegedly selling appointment slots above the daily capacity agreed for the ongoing special passport intervention exercise.
The official, who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic, said the arrangement had led to Nigerians being asked to pay additional sums for passport services, describing the practice as ‘extortion and nothing more’.
The allegations come on the heels of increasing complaints by Nigerians in the United Kingdom concerning delays, problems in securing appointments and charges in respect of the special passport intervention effort being carried out by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in partnership with the Nigeria High Commission.
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, posted Aminu Muhammad Dalhatu to the United Kingdom in March 2026 and the British Government has given agréement. Dalhatu later formally took the position of Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK.
The source said the idea was that initially the immigration authorities would process up to 90 applicants per day but claimed that the High Commission thereafter began to issue or sell appointments above that capacity.
“They were supposed to have 90 people come in per day but they started selling appointment slots,” the person added.
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