ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has defended the effectiveness of its Contactless Passport Application platform, stating that the technical issues experienced during its early stages have been resolved.
The clarification comes amid continued complaints from Nigerians in the United Kingdom over delays in passport processing and poor communication at the Nigerian High Commission in London.
The Service said the introduction of the NIS Mobile application has addressed the long-standing challenge of securing appointments for passport biometric enrolment, describing it as a significant improvement in passport processing for Nigerians living abroad.
Responding to the concerns in a statement issued on Saturday, the NIS spokesman, Akinsola Akinlabi, said the mobile application, introduced in the UK in 2024, had undergone several upgrades following feedback from users.
According to him, those improvements have resolved the technical glitches that initially affected the platform.
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“The issue of long waiting periods to secure appointments for passport biometric enrolment at the High Commission is something the government has addressed with the introduction of the Contactless Passport Application App (NIS Mobile), available on the Play Store and App Store, or alternatively through our website.
“The App has undergone a series of upgrades with new updates to address applicants’ complaints since its launch in the UK in 2024. Glitches on the App are now a thing of the past,” he said.
The Immigration Service urged passport applicants to monitor its official social media platforms for updates on application procedures and enhancements to the digital platform.
Akinlabi also explained that applicants who had already been assigned distant biometric appointment dates could switch to the contactless platform and complete the enrolment process themselves, provided they met the eligibility requirements.
He, however, clarified that the self-service option is only available for passport renewals involving expired passports or passports that are due to expire within one year.
“Applicants who got long appointment dates can still switch to the App to self-enrol as long as the application is for renewal due to expiry or at least a year to expire.
“It must, however, be noted that replacement of lost passports, change of date and first-time application are not allowed on the App,” he said.
He further disclosed that applicants under the age of 18 are not eligible to renew their passports through the contactless platform.
Addressing complaints that officials at the Nigerian High Commission in London rarely respond to phone calls or emails, Akinlabi said the Immigration Service does not directly oversee the mission’s front-office operations.
According to him, while the High Commission is responsible for customer-facing services, the Immigration Service remains in regular contact with the mission to improve immigration-related service delivery.
“The High Commission runs the front office of the Mission and the Service may not be in the position to respond to this. However, the Service is in constant communication with the Mission on the best possible approach to attend to enquiries from Nigerians in the diaspora, especially those bordering on immigration duties,” he said.