Manchester Passport Intervention: Nigerians Demand Better Service, Accountability

MANCHESTER, UK — Nigerians seeking passport services at the Passport Intervention Centre in Manchester have expressed frustration over what they described as poor organisation and prolonged delays at the ongoing intervention exercise.
As of 11:30 a.m., applicants who reportedly arrived at the centre as early as 9:00 a.m. were still waiting, with little or no visible progress in the processing of their applications.
The situation has raised concerns among Nigerians who had taken time off work, travelled considerable distances and incurred expenses to access the passport intervention service.
Applicants said that while they appreciate efforts to bring passport services closer to Nigerians in the diaspora, such initiatives should be supported by adequate planning, efficient crowd management and timely communication.
The development has renewed calls for the authorities responsible for the exercise to improve the organisation of future passport interventions, particularly in locations where demand is expected to be high.
Observers noted that Nigerians living abroad deserve a service delivery system that respects their time, resources and dignity, rather than one that leaves applicants waiting for hours without adequate information about when services will commence.
The concerns also highlight the need for authorities to move away from what critics describe as the “old ways of doing things” and embrace a more efficient, transparent and professionally coordinated system.
The authorities, including the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other relevant officials, are therefore being urged to urgently address the situation, provide clear information to applicants and ensure that the Manchester intervention delivers the efficient passport service Nigerians were promised.
Nigerians in the United Kingdom deserve better.
Refine the Manchester passport report