Nigerians seeking passport services at the Nigerian Passport Intervention Centre in Manchester have expressed frustration over what has been described as prolonged delays and poor organisation at the facility.
The concerns were raised in an X post by a user identified as Oluomo of Derby (@Oluomoofderby), who criticised the handling of applicants at the centre.
Oluomo called for urgent improvements in the delivery of passport services to Nigerians in the United Kingdom.
According to the post, applicants who arrived at the centre as early as 9:00 a.m. were still waiting by 11:30 a.m., with little or no apparent progress.
“It is now 11:30 a.m., and people who arrived as early as 9:00 a.m. are still waiting, with nothing happening,” Oluomo of Derby wrote.
The complainant said the delays were particularly concerning because many applicants had taken time away from work and travelled considerable distances to access the intervention service.
“This is not the way to treat Nigerians who have taken time off work, travelled long distances, and paid for passport services,” the post stated.
A 26-second video accompanying the post showed a large number of Nigerians gathered outside the building housing the intervention centre.
Some applicants could be seen standing around the entrance and surrounding gardens, checking their phones and waiting under overcast weather conditions.
The scene appeared crowded and loosely organised, highlighting the difficulties faced by applicants awaiting service.
The post called for better planning, organisation and communication in the conduct of passport intervention exercises.
“We need proper planning, better organisation, clear communication, and an efficient system that respects people’s time and dignity,” Oluomo of Derby said.
The criticism also appeared to resonate with other Nigerians.
Some responded to the post, with some recounting similar experiences involving lengthy waiting times, and inadequate facilities.
Others described the scene as outdated processes associated with Nigerian passport services in the UK.
Some respondents specifically raised concerns about services connected to the Nigerian High Commission in London.
They called for a more efficient and modern approach to serving Nigerians living in the diaspora.
The complaints come amid growing expectations among Nigerians abroad for more efficient consular and passport services.
Some raised particular concern given the cost and logistical challenges involved in travelling to designated intervention centres.
Oluomo of Derby urged authorities to move away from what he described as “the same old ways of doing things” and ensure that passport interventions are properly organised.
“Nigerians in the UK deserve better,” the post concluded.
The concerns raised in the social media post represent the experience of applicant at the Manchester centre.
The video and responses highlight renewed calls from some Nigerians in the UK for improved planning, communication and service delivery during passport intervention exercises.
