In multiple videos seen by SaharaReproters on X, the angry protesters were heard lamenting how the Nigerian agencies neglected them for more than six months after they applied for the passport.
Nigerian nationals residing in the United Kingdom on Wednesday morning stormed the country’s high commission in London to protest the long delay in issuing their international passports.
In multiple videos seen by SaharaReproters on X, the angry protesters were heard lamenting how the Nigerian agencies neglected them for more than six months after they applied for the passport.
“Two weeks turn to six months. Enough is enough. No more delay,” one of the protesters said in the video.
The protesters were also seen with several placards calling for the immediate cancellation of extra fees imposed on passport applicants by the embassy.
“Nigerian passport is our right. Say no to $318 extra fee. Minister you promised us 2 weeks, it is 6 months now,” some of the displayed placards read.
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Meanwhile, In December 2023, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had said that passports would be henceforth made available in two weeks to applicants.
The Minister had also promised that Nigerians would also be saved of the pains of having to wait in the queue to upload the needed information to get passports issued.
He had said that registration would be done online and the only thing that would be needed to be done at any passport office is the biometrics capture and the collection of issued passports.
He had said the ministry was working on getting the needed equipment to make this possible last December.
The minister gave the promise during a press briefing where he disclosed to journalists how the ministry, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other stakeholders achieved clearance of 204,332 passport backlogs across the country within three weeks.
However, the ongoing protest in London has proved that the minister is yet to fulfil his promise seven months later.