Diaspora Nigerians Demand Urgent Reform of NIN, Passport Processing Systems

Diaspora Nigerians Demand Urgent Reform of NIN, Passport Processing Systems

Nigerians living in the Diaspora have urged the federal government to take swift action to address persistent difficulties associated with obtaining the National Identification Number (NIN) and Nigerian passports abroad.

The call was made by three major Diaspora groups — the International Advocacy for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption (IAHRAC), Concerned Nigerians in Germany, and the Nigeria Business Forum, Switzerland — in a joint statement issued on Monday. The document was signed by Okoro Akinyemi (IAHRAC), Lewis Ehiwario (Concerned Nigerians), and Dozie Ugochokwu (Nigeria Business Forum).

According to the statement, the push for reform followed the release of a comprehensive report in Abuja detailing challenges faced by Nigerians overseas. The findings were based on extensive consultations and a cross-country survey conducted among Nigerians in Europe and North America.

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The groups said Nigerians abroad face prolonged delays, additional travel burdens and systemic bottlenecks when attempting to obtain or verify their NIN. They noted that the current system makes timely processing “extremely difficult.”

They called for urgent digitalisation and modernisation of NIN and passport services, emphasising improved funding for foreign missions, upgraded equipment, increased staffing, and clearer immigration guidelines.

The organisations stressed that Nigerians abroad should be able to access both NIN and passport services simultaneously at embassies to minimise stress and duplication.

Citing widespread dissatisfaction from the Diaspora survey, the groups criticised the overreliance on private agents for NIN registration, which they said has resulted in inconsistent procedures, high fees, irregular charges, and poor oversight — raising concerns of possible exploitation.

They recommended creating a secure, fully digitalised NIN system accessible worldwide without intermediaries. The groups further urged that embassies and consulates directly manage NIN and passport services, alongside the deployment of mobile registration units across major global cities to reduce travel burdens for applicants.

Diaspora Nigerians Demand Urgent Reform of NIN, Passport Processing Systems