The Federal Government has directed that Nigerians with expired passports who are planning to come back to the country to celebrate the festive season be permitted into the country without any hindrance.
This announcement was contained in a letter dated 22nd December 2023 by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Wura-Ola Adepoju, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, via the Office of Assistant Comptroller General, Border Management.
The letter instructed the NIS to allow Nigerians with expired Nigerian passports into the country.
“l am directed to refer to the above subject matter and to inform you that the Federal Government of Nigeria in her efforts to make life easy for Nigerians in the diaspora has approved that all Nigerians returning home can be admitted into the country with their expired Nigerian passports”. The letter reads in parts.
The letter further instructed that all Nigeria Embassies and High Commissions to give this directive the highest publicity it deserves.
The letter noted that consequent upon the announcement, all entry/exit points are directed to open a help desk for all Nigerians in this category and direct same to passport offices where their passports will be reissued within a maximum of two (2) weeks.
Meantime, the media aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alkasim Abdulkadir, could not authenticate the receipt of the letter, stating that he was not in the office as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the NIS spokesperson, Dotun Aridegbe, could not be reached as his phone number did not connect as at press time.
A reliable source at the NIS who preferred anonymity, however confirmed that the policy was not new adding that same gesture was initiated by Federal Government in the previous year.
