The Nigeria Immigration Service has reported that 2,296 Nigerians were enrolled in the first week of the service’s Special Passport Intervention Exercise in the United Kingdom.
A statement published by the Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi in Abuja today said the enrolment figure was obtained across the London and Manchester Centers.
The exercise, which started on September 7, 2026, has seen a steady turnout and continuous processing of applications with confirmed appointments in the two centers, the NIS said in reports. The PUNCH.
The statement titled, ‘United Kingdom Special Passport Intervention Exercise: Week One Review’ stated, “The Nigeria Immigration Service Special Passport Intervention Exercise in the United Kingdom has made significant progress in the first week with a total of 2,296 applicants successfully enroled in the London and Manchester Centers.
The exercise started on 7 September 2026 and has recorded steady turnout and the continued screening of candidates with confirmed appointments at the London and Manchester Centers.
“During the first six days of operation, a total of 2,296 applicants successfully enrolled. This breaks down to 587 candidates processed at the London Center and 1,709 applicants processed at the Manchester Centre,” with the daily enrolment figures for the week, September 7-12, 2026.
The statement read: “On a working visit to the Special Passport Intervention Centers in Manchester and London, as part of efforts to ensure effective oversight and quality Service Delivery, the Service’s Comptroller-General, Kemi Nandap,
It said the visit was for the NIS boss to examine the exercise, engage with the Nigerian community and to ensure that the intervention delivers effective, responsive and smooth passport services to all applicants.
The operation was still ongoing at the London and Manchester Centers to guarantee applicants with confirmed intervention appointments of service, the statement said.
“Production of passports and sending them to enrolled applicants has begun and is progressing steadily. The Nigeria Immigration Service appreciates the patience, understanding and cooperation of the members of the Nigerian Community in the United Kingdom during the exercise.
“The Service also calls on all applicants to continue cooperating with the officials on the ground for smooth and efficient implementation of the intervention,” the statement said.
Earlier, the Nigeria High Commission in London, United Kingdom, had explained that the £70 administration price charged to Nigerians during the ongoing exercise was not approved by the Federal Government, arguing that the usual administrative charge was still £20.
This comes after the mission said just a day before that applicants who had paid £70 would get a £50 refund – the customary £20 administration charge.
“This is to advise all passport intervention applicants that have paid a £70 admin fee that £50 will be refunded to you, £20 being the standard admin fee,” the commission said in a notification published on its website.
Nigerians in the Diaspora can renew their passports without going physically to an embassy or high commission for biometric enrolment, provided they match the eligibility requirements for the Service’s Contactless Passport Application System, it was reported on September 12, 2026.
“The system enables eligible Nigerians in the diaspora to apply for the renewal of their passports and complete their biometric enrolment and track their applications remotely.”
The NIS, in a video uploaded on its official X handle, described how the system works and appealed to Nigerians to use only the proper channels for passport applications.
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