Nigerians living in the Diaspora have called for urgent government action to resolve persistent difficulties associated with obtaining National Identification Numbers and Nigerian passports abroad.
The Nigerians, under the aegis of the International Advocacy for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption, Concerned Nigerians in Germany, and the Nigeria Business Forum, Switzerland, urged the government to address the delays affecting NIN and passport processing.
The Diaspora groups made this known in a statement on Monday, jointly signed by Okoro Akinyemi of IAHRAC, Lewis Ehiwario of Concerned Nigerians, and Dozie Ugochokwu of the Nigeria Business Forum.
According to the statement, the call followed the release of a detailed report in Abuja on Monday, highlighting the challenges faced by Nigerians overseas after extensive consultations with Diaspora communities across multiple countries.
The groups said the report stemmed from a strategic meeting and a cross-country survey conducted among Nigerians living in Europe and North America.
They noted that the exercise aimed to identify recurring obstacles and document shared experiences across different jurisdictions.
Nigerians abroad frequently face prolonged delays and additional travel burdens while trying to obtain or verify their NIN. Many applicants reported systemic obstacles that make timely processing extremely difficult, the statement said.
The groups called for urgent digitalisation and modernisation of the NIN and passport systems, stressing the need for improved funding for foreign missions, upgraded equipment, increased staffing, and clearer immigration guidelines.
Nigerians abroad should be able to access both services simultaneously at embassies to reduce duplication, stress and unnecessary logistical complications.
Embassies require strengthened digital infrastructure capable of managing increased service demand and expanded responsibilities, the statement added.
Citing a Diaspora-wide survey, the groups expressed concerns about the current NIN registration model.
Overreliance on private agents has resulted in inconsistent procedures, high fees and widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians seeking reliable identification services abroad.
Irregular fees, unpredictable processing timelines and inadequate oversight have fuelled concerns about possible exploitation, the statement noted.
The groups stressed the need for a secure, fully digitalised NIN system that Nigerians worldwide can access without intermediaries.
They further recommended that embassies and consulates directly handle NIN and passport services, and proposed the creation of mobile registration units across major global cities to reduce travel burdens for applicants.
