Nigerian high commission in the UK reintroduces fast track passport applications

VISA processing form Online Integrated Solution (OIS) has been offered a passport processing contract by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) that now empowers it to reintroduce fast track processing of applications at the London high commission.

Back in May 2021, Ambassador Sarafa Ishola assumed office as the Nigerian high commissioner to the UK and set about addressing the perennial passport problem. To help clear the backlog that had built up due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, Ambassador Ishola introduced a fast track option that allowed those desperate to travel to get their passports within 72 hours.

However, in April, 2022, the NIS asked the London high commission to stop the process despite it being very popular with UK diasporans. One big downside to this is that a huge backlog has grown as those who apply for passport renewals can sometimes be made to wait for as long as five months to get an appointment to go to the London mission to have their biometrics done.

Aware of the problems this was creating, the Central Association of Nigerian in the UK (Canuk), wrote to the then interior minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola asking him to reintroduce the fast-track scheme. This year, Canuk has also asked the current interior minister Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to reinstate the fast-track programme and it appears that these calls have finally been headed.

In an unprecedented move, OIS, who handles the processing of Nigerian visas in the UK from its offices in Fleet Street in Central London, will now help with the processing of passport applications from the high commission. This will see the company acting as the interface with the public and also providing customer service responses for applicants who can now get fast-tracked passports delivered to them within 48 hours.

Ambassador Bakur Abdulsalam, the head of immigration at the high commission, said: "I am pleased to inform you all that immigration fast-track passport applications have been reinstated. There will no longer be any problems or worries about getting passports on time but the service is not free."

With the arrangement taking effect immediately, OIS has used the opportunity to enter into a major sponsorship contract with Canuk, who it will now be closely working with under the new regime. Up until now, Canuk's passport liaison committee has served as the de facto customer service desk of the high commission, so plans are now afoot for the two organisations to work closely together.

To benefit from this new fast track process, applicants will be charged a fee of $300 but it guarantees them that they will get their applications processed within 48 hours. As part of this close cooperation, OIS has also agreed to sponsor Canuk's end-of-year gala dinner taking place on December 14 at the Mayfair Banqueting Suite.

Archibald Coker, the general manager of OIS Services Global, said: "At OIS, we pride ourselves on our professionalism and our ability to offer customers great value for money. Up until now, we have handled all visa applications and in recognition of the job we have done, the high commission has now asked us to take over the processing of visa applications too.

"We have offices in 27 countries where we handle Nigerian visa applications and also work for several other nations too. Now, we are upping the ante by adding passport applications, Nigerian Identity Numbers (NIN) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) to the array of products we are offering in the UK."

Ayo Akinfe, the Canuk chairman, added: "We are delighted that OIS is helping with passport applications and believe that they will bring a degree of professionalism into the process. Up until now, Canuk's passport liaison committee has served as the de facto customer service desk of the high commission but now, we are going to work with OIS to establish a proper public-facing desk that will handle all queries, complaints and customer needs.

"As part of this new spirit of working together and hopefully a long term partnership deal, OIS has agreed to sponsor our end-of-gala dinner party taking place on December 14. At the classy event which will be attended by the high commissioner and chair of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission among others, OIS will be unveiling further details of their plans and how they intend to take passport, visa, NIN and BVN services to the next level."

Representing about 140 Nigerian organisations in the UK, Canuk is the first point of call for members of the community who have passport problems. As part of this partnership arrangement, OIS will also be looking to book a table of 10 at Canuk's December 14 gala dinner, with staff and the management team attending the event along with their spouses as part of a process that involves interacting with the community.