Nigeria Abroad
Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Muhammad Babandede has said diaspora Nigerians who could not travel back home due to expired passports given pandemic-related closure of some Nigerian missions abroad, can now do so.
Nigeria’s Leadership reports that Babandede stated this during a press chat Wednesday at NIS’ Abuja office.
Such Nigerians should apply to the Comptroller General of Immigration for approval and clearance before proceeding to travel, Babandele said, adding that Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had approved the opening of three front offices at Abuja, Kano and Lagos International Airports for the purpose.
He said that NIS was working with Nigeria’s Central Bank and the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to resolve the technical issues hampering the smooth transition of passport renewals for Nigerians who live especially in France, UK, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia and countries with stringent COVID lockdown protocols.
Babandele also addressed other immigration issues, among them reported increase in fake marriages between Nigerian women and foreigners—who aim to evade paying resident permits.
A collaboration between NIS and the Federal Inland Revenue Service is underway to ensure foreigners in Nigeria are properly taxed, the NIS boss said.
He further said visa on arrival should only be applied for by individuals and not companies who are serving as agents, and that newly decentralized Passport Express Processing Centre launched in Abuja will ease delays in passport issuance and create new jobs.
For Nigerians abroad who wish to travel with expired passports, inquiries regarding how to apply for the Comptroller General’s approval may be sent through the NIS website.
This story first appeared in Nigeria Abroad
