For years, the Nigerian Immigration Service at the Nigerian High Commission in London, United Kingdom, was riddled with inefficiency, frustration, and corruption.
Nigerians in London had to endure endless waits, standing in long queues as early as 4 a.m. whenever they came for their passport biometric appointment.
“It was always from one hassle or the other, including face-offs with exploitative touts who had adopted the commission as their second address.”
It was always from one hassle or the other, including face-offs with exploitative touts who had adopted the commission as their second address.
However, today, I am delighted to say that it is a great time to witness a remarkable transformation that will turn this once-dreaded institution for passport applicants into a beacon of hope for Nigerians abroad.
During a recent unannounced visit to the High Commission’s passport section, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), experienced the dramatic improvements firsthand.
In Abike’s words, “I was truly moved by the heartwarming stories shared by our people,” she remarked. “This is indeed a game changer for all Nigerians in the diaspora. This is what they have been looking for, and it is unbelievable that it has happened.”
She narrated her experience with three Nigerians who shared glowing testimonials about the reformed passport service under the leadership of Deputy Commander of Immigration (DCI) Bashir Aminu and supported by CG Immigration, Kemi Nandap, and Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Read also: Nigeria Immigration Service suspends officer over bribe in a viral video
“It’s been a wonderful experience. We thought it was going to take a longer time, but when we got here, it didn’t even take up to two hours. So, our return tickets now will have to wait because we have eleven hours more to leave,” said a Nigerian passport applicant, Luke, and his spouse, Janet, spoke to Abike Dabiri at the Nigerian High Commission in London.
“We have expected something quite tedious for us to renew our passports, but fortunately, we found something so seamless thanks to the man called Aminu Bashir and his leaders such as Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the CG Immigration who gave him the support to operate,” a long-time London resident, Adebayo Oluwaleye, recounted his experience to Abike Dabiri during her visit.
“I booked my return ticket for 7:30 pm, thinking I’ll spend up to eight hours here. But here I am, done in just two hours,” another Nigerian, Chineye Odika, shared her experience.
As a Nigerian in the diaspora myself, I am beyond elated to listen to the testimonies of my fellow Nigerians; the pride and assurance that this particular innovation gives us is beyond the physical. To me, this is a way to mend the broken trust we once had in our leaders. Because we asked, the government listened, took action, thereby making our lives easier. What more can we ask for?
Another course for celebration about this reform in the Nigerian House in London is the elimination of touts and middlemen. Now, we will no longer face unlawful charges or fall victim to fraudulent agents.
The clear, streamlined process leaves no room for exploitation. Previously, many people had to ‘settle’ someone to get their passport faster, but now, the official process is smooth and transparent. You know what to do and don’t need anyone’s help. I applaud this particular move to eliminate corruption in the immigration system.
With these innovative reforms, the Nigerian Immigration Service in London is setting a new benchmark for service delivery. What was once a symbol of inefficiency has become a model of excellence, thanks to the determined leadership of Minister Tunji-Ojo, the NIS attache in London, Bashir Aminu, and the CG Immigration, Kemi Nandap.
For all Nigerians abroad, this transformation is not just a bureaucratic fix—it is a restoration of our dignity and trust in a system that once seemed beyond repair. My hope now is that this positive innovation will extend to Nigerian embassies and immigration offices worldwide, ensuring that no Nigerian feels abandoned by their country again, regardless of where they are.
Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye, a Strategic Communications Expert, is the Convener of League of Progressive Nigerians (LPN) in the United Kingdom. @maxwell_adeleye on X
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