Nigeria Immigration Enrols 2,296 Applicants in Six Days as UK Passport Intervention Sees Strong Turnout

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has enrolled 2,296 applicants during the first six operational days of its Special Passport Intervention Exercise in the United Kingdom, highlighting strong demand for passport services among Nigerians in London and Manchester.

The intervention began on September 7, 2026, with applicants attending the designated centres based on confirmed appointments. Between September 7 and 12, a total of 1,709 applicants were enrolled at the Manchester Centre, while 587 were processed in London. Manchester therefore accounted for roughly three-quarters of the total enrolment during the first six days.

Daily enrolment remained consistently high throughout the period. The NIS recorded 245 applicants on September 7, followed by 401 on September 8, 396 on September 9, 429 on September 10, 406 on September 11 and 419 on September 12. The figures show that demand remained strong beyond the opening days rather than declining after the initial rush.

The latest figures also represent a notable increase from the 1,477 applicants the NIS said had been enrolled during the first four days of the exercise. At that stage, the Service reported that more than half of those applicants had already had their passports produced and dispatched to their respective addresses, indicating that production was taking place alongside continued enrolment.

The strong turnout had already prompted the NIS to extend the intervention. The exercise was originally scheduled to run until September 19, but the Service announced on September 11 that operations in London and Manchester would continue until October 3. The extension was introduced to provide additional capacity and allow more eligible applicants to access the intervention.

The intervention was introduced as part of efforts to address passport-processing pressures affecting Nigerians in the UK. Earlier reports on the exercise noted initial operational challenges on the first day, but the NIS subsequently said the process had stabilised and was progressing smoothly at both centres. Applicants were required to have confirmed appointments before being attended to.

As part of efforts to monitor the exercise, NIS Comptroller-General Kemi Nanna Nandap undertook working visits to the intervention centres in Manchester and London. The visits were aimed at assessing operations firsthand, engaging with members of the Nigerian community and monitoring the quality and efficiency of service delivery.

The NIS has now confirmed that passport production and dispatch for applicants already enrolled have commenced and are progressing steadily. The Service has also assured applicants with confirmed intervention appointments that the exercise remains ongoing at both centres.

The latest figures suggest that the intervention is operating at a considerably higher pace than the initial four-day period, while the decision to extend the exercise gives the NIS more time to accommodate demand. With the programme continuing into October, attention will now shift to how quickly the Service can complete production and delivery for those already enrolled while maintaining the pace of new applications.

The NIS has thanked Nigerians in the UK for their patience and cooperation and urged applicants to continue working with officials at the centres to ensure the intervention runs smoothly.