The Federal Government has granted approval for Nigerians with expired passports who intend to return home for the Christmas and New Year celebrations to do so unhindered.
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, through the Office of Assistant Comptroller General, Border Management, the NIS asked that Nigerians “be admitted into the country with their expired Nigerian passports”.
“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.
“I am further directed to inform airlines coming to Nigeria to allow holders of Nigeria expired passports to board without let.
“In furtherance to the foregoing, all Nigeria Embassies and High Commissions are advised to give this directive the highest publicity it deserves.
“Consequent upon the above, all entry/exit points are by the copy of this letter directed to open a help desk for all Nigerians in this category and directed same to passport offices where their passports will be reissued within a maximum of two (2) weeks,” the letter sighted by Daily Trust stated in part.
Meanwhile, the media aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alkasim Abdulkadir, could not confirm the receipt of the letter, adding that he was not in the office at the moment.
According to Daily Trust, the NIS spokesperson, Dotun Aridegbe could not be reached on phone to confirm the authenticity of the letter.
However, a reliable source at the NIS who wouldn’t want to be named confirmed that the policy was not new as the Federal Government did the same last year.