By Bukola Olasanmi
The Federal Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have launched a special service that enables Nigerians living in foreign countries with expired passports to return home without any hindrance at all ports of entry.
The Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Anthony Akuneme, noted that the special fast-track service is part of passport administration and immigration service reforms.
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With effect from December 12, 2022 to January 31, 2023, the dedicated service allows Nigerian passport holders in the Diaspora to board at their countries of residence and be admitted into Nigeria with their expired international passports.
Nigeria Immigration Service also gives the returnee Nigerians opportunity to renew their Nigerian passports during their stay in the country as part of the multi-layer strategic reforms of passport administration in the country.
The Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Isah Idris, had in a circular dated December 9, 2022, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, heads of foreign missions, immigration attaches, airport comptrollers and airlines, stated that the Federal Government approved the special arrangement.
Jere added that all airlines in Nigeria were requested to allow holders of expired Nigerian passports to board without hindrance, while Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad were requested to circulate the information to airline operators and border authorities of their host countries for compliance.
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In the same vein, Akuneme, a Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, said dedicated Diaspora desks had been set up at all international airports across the country to ensure hassle-free passage for Nigerians returning home from abroad. He added that the CGI had also directed Passport Control Offices to accord priority to the returnees and their families bearing in mind that most of them have specific time they must return to their countries of residence after their holiday in Nigeria.