Nigerians Demand Permanent Passport Office in Manchester

The Nigerian Community Greater Manchester says the high turnout during a temporary immigration exercise highlights the difficulties faced by thousands of Nigerians travelling to London for consular services

Nigerians living in Northern England have called on the Federal Government to establish a permanent passport and consular service in Manchester after the city recorded 1,709 passport enrolments within the first six days of a special intervention exercise, almost three times London’s 587.

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The Nigerian Community Greater Manchester (NCGM) made the appeal during its celebration of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary in Manchester on Saturday, October 10, 2026, arguing that the figures demonstrate the growing need for accessible Nigerian government services outside London.

The community’s chairman, Abayomi Bashiru-Kaka, said the temporary intervention had provided considerable relief to Nigerians in the region but maintained that occasional exercises could not adequately address the continuing demand for passport and other consular services.

The figures, released by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on September 14, showed that Manchester accounted for approximately 74.4 per cent of the 2,296 applicants enrolled across the two centres during the first six operational days.

The Manchester centre processed 1,709 applicants, compared with 587 in London, highlighting the significant demand for passport services among Nigerians living outside the British capital.

In a statement signed by the organisation’s Public Relations Officer, Joy Adetona, the community explained that Nigerians living in Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford and Newcastle frequently face additional expenses and logistical difficulties when travelling to London for immigration and consular appointments.

Families, elderly citizens, students and working professionals were identified as some of the groups most affected by the arrangement, particularly those who have to take time away from work or make lengthy journeys to complete passport-related processes.

Bashiru-Kaka urged the Nigerian High Commission in London, the NIS and other relevant authorities to consider establishing a regular passport and consular service in Northern England, with Manchester serving as its regional centre.

He argued that Manchester’s accessibility, established Nigerian community networks and the substantial number of applications recorded during the intervention made the city a practical location for a permanent service.

The September intervention was part of a wider effort by the Federal Government to address passport application delays and improve access to immigration services for Nigerians living abroad.

The exercise was organised by the NIS in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in London following a directive from the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who authorised the deployment of a dedicated passport intervention team from the service’s headquarters in Abuja.

Initially, the programme covered four UK locations: Manchester, London, Cardiff and Aberdeen. Manchester and London hosted the first phase from September 7, while the intervention subsequently moved to Aberdeen and Cardiff.

The NIS later extended the exercise following the high turnout and sustained demand, with the revised programme scheduled to run until October 30, 2026.

The service also confirmed that passport production and dispatch had commenced for applicants enrolled during the initial phase, while Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, visited the Manchester and London centres to assess operations and engage with members of the Nigerian community.

In its September 14 announcement, the NIS reported that 2,296 applicants had been enrolled across both centres within six operational days, describing the exercise as one that had recorded “sustained turnout and the steady processing of applicants with confirmed appointments”.

The Nigerian Community Greater Manchester welcomed the intervention and commended the Federal Government, the Nigerian High Commission and the immigration service for bringing passport services closer to Nigerians in the diaspora.

Bashiru-Kaka particularly acknowledged the contributions of Tunji-Ojo and Nandap, while urging the authorities to build on the progress recorded during the exercise by introducing a permanent arrangement for Northern England.

The community also argued that improved access to consular services would strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and its citizens abroad.

Nigerians in the diaspora contribute to the country’s economy through family remittances, investment, professional expertise and community development initiatives.

The group maintained that making essential government services more accessible would demonstrate greater recognition of these contributions.

However, the proposed Manchester facility would require sustained coordination between the Federal Government, the Ministry of Interior, the NIS and the Nigerian High Commission in London.

The NIS has also maintained that its digital passport application channels, including the Contactless Passport Application System, remain available to eligible applicants seeking passport renewals without visiting a physical centre.

The distinction is important because the proposed permanent service would complement existing digital facilities by providing in-person assistance for biometric enrolment, new applications and cases requiring further administrative attention.

The community has pledged to continue engaging Nigerian authorities and relevant institutions in the United Kingdom to pursue the proposal.

It also called for timely public announcements, transparent appointment arrangements and clear application guidelines whenever future passport intervention exercises are organised.

For Nigerians living across Northern England, the demand is ultimately about more than obtaining a passport.

It is about reducing the financial and logistical burden of accessing essential government services and ensuring that geographical distance does not become an obstacle to receiving assistance from their home country.

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The 1,709 enrolments recorded in Manchester have given the community a strong numerical basis for its appeal. Whether that demand will translate into a permanent regional consular facility now rests with the relevant Nigerian authorities.