Fresh concerns over Nigeria’s passport administration have resurfaced following accounts from stranded Nigerians in Europe, even as the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday condemned delays in passport processing during an unannounced visit to a Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) office in Abuja.
A Nigerian citizen took to X to recount a frustrating experience at the Nigerian Embassy in Sweden, where dozens of applicants who had travelled from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland and different parts were unable to have their biometrics captured due to what officials described as “no connection from Abuja.”
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Reaction from X #lifeinsolace says “Someone I met there said it was his second trip from Finland, only to encounter the same problem (no connection) again.
“He refused to return home, saying he couldn’t afford another ticket, so he decided to stay in a hotel. This is the first time I’ve seen or heard of a citizen showing up for an appointment at their own country’s embassy, only to be turned away due to “no connection” with headquarters, and with no compensation for travel expenses. Nothing at all!”
According to the account, all applicants both those with appointments and walk-ins were turned back and asked to return “anytime,” despite the significant cost of flights, trains and ferries incurred to attend the exercise. No alternative arrangements or compensation were offered.
“This isn’t the first time, and it’s not limited to Sweden,” the user wrote, noting that similar issues had been reported at other Nigerian missions abroad. The user, however, acknowledged the efforts of Nigeria’s ambassador to Sweden, who reportedly addressed applicants repeatedly and expressed sympathy over the situation.
The embassy in Sweden was described as one of Nigeria’s most efficient passport centres in Europe in previous years, when same-day passport issuance was possible. The situation reportedly worsened after embassies lost the authority to print passports locally, making them dependent on systems and approvals from headquarters in Abuja.
The overseas complaints echo domestic concerns raised the same day by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo during an inspection of the NIS passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja. The minister visited the VIP and Children sections of the facility, where he questioned officials over persistent delays despite official resumption times.
Tunji-Ojo criticised the slow pace of processing and warned applicants against making extra payments outside official fees, stressing that inefficiencies within the system were unacceptable.
The parallel incidents—one at home and the other abroad—have renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s passport reform efforts, particularly the centralised biometric and printing system that links foreign missions to Abuja.
Many Nigerians are now calling for urgent technical upgrades, clearer scheduling, and contingency measures to prevent applicants from bearing the cost of systemic failures.
As frustrations mount, observers say the credibility of Nigeria’s passport administration, both locally and internationally, will depend on how quickly authorities translate inspections and promises into tangible improvements.