The Nigerian Government ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), to allow Nigerians in with expired passports from the diaspora to return to Nigeria.
The order was given by the Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday, in Lagos, responding to a complaint by a Nigerian-American citizen, Mr. Jamui Kasumu, at the Alausa Passport Office during his unscheduled visit to the facility, reported by NAN.
The Minister disclosed that Nigerians can return safely to Nigeria either with expired Nigerian passports or non-expired Nigerian passport.
What the Minister said:
Aregbesola stated that Nigerians do not need a travel certificate to return, except children, whose parents were Nigerians, with their identity not yet to be established according to immigration rule.
“I am using this medium to instruct all Nigeria Immigration Officers World-Wide to accord Nigerian travellers with expired Passport use such passports to return safely back home henceforth,” he said.
“Nigerians in diaspora should update their travel document ahead of time to avoid rush during emergency.
The report cited that the Nigerian-American citizen, Mr. Jamui Kasumu said Nigerian Immigration in America and Delta airline prevented him from coming to Nigeria because of expired Nigerian passport.
“I am appealing to you sir that the Immigration should allow Nigerians with expired Passports to come back to their country,” he said.
In case you missed it
BellNews Online reported that The Nigerian Immigration Service announced the launch of the enhanced e-Passport for Nigerians in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, which comes with a ten-year validity.
NIS said the passport comes in 3 categories, which are a 32-page 5-year validity, 64-page 5-year validity and 64-page 10-year validity.