By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Federal Government of Nigeria says citizens of the country living overseas with expired passports but intends to return home to celebrate the yuletide with family members, are allowed in without any hindrance, a letter has indicated.
Dated December 22, 2023 and initiated by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Wura-Ola Adepoju, and addressed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, through the Office of Assistant Comptroller General, Border Management, the letter requests 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 reads in part.
An NIS source who pleaded anonymity confirmed the authenticity of the letter, saying the policy was not new as the Federal Government did the same last year.
