Nigerians Protest at UK Passport Intervention Centre Over Admin Fees, Delays

The federal government’s intervention to ease passport processing for Nigerians in the United Kingdom (UK) has gotten off to a rocky start, with applicants protesting alleged additional administrative fees and delays in processing applications.

Videos shared by social media users on Monday showed a crowd gathered outside a locked door believed to be the Nigerian Passport Intervention Centre in Manchester as they waited to gain entry.

“It is now 11:30 a.m., and people who arrived as early as 9:00 a.m. are still waiting, with nothing happening. This is not the way to treat Nigerians who have taken time off work, travelled long distances, and paid for passport services,” an X user posted.

“Please, we cannot continue doing things this way. We need proper planning, better organisation, clear communication, and an efficient system that respects people’s time and dignity. We must move away from the same old ways of doing things and organise these interventions properly.”

Another video reportedly recorded at the passport intervention centre showed a man asking a separate crowd of Nigerians to leave the premises.

According to social media posts, the man, who was said to be the owner of the lounge booked for the passport intervention in London, expressed anger over what he described as the “incompetence” of Nigerian authorities.

“We’re done for today, deal with the embassy, I can’t take it. Its unorganised, no security, no staff,” the man is heard saying.

An X user added that the man also called the police on the crowd.

“You successfully embarrassed us in front of the UK police & a Lebanese owner because of your incompetence. He said he hasn’t been paid, no staff, no security. 3 people attended to in 1 hour, it’s 2pm and just 12 people have been attended to. Shame @nigimmigration @BTOofficial,” the social media user said.

Nigerian immigration authorities were also accused of demanding £70 from citizens in passport intervention “administrative fees”.