Nigerians living across Northern England are asking the Federal Government to establish a permanent passport office in Manchester, citing long journeys to London for consular services.
The appeal follows a Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) exercise that enrolled 1,709 applicants in Manchester during its first six operational days, against 587 in London. The NIS published the figures on September 14.
Manchester demand prompts call for regular service
The Nigerian Community Greater Manchester (NCGM) made the call during its Nigeria Independence anniversary celebration in Manchester on October 10. Chairman Abayomi Bashiru-Kaka said temporary passport exercises had helped, but residents needed more consistent access in Northern England.
The exercise was delivered by the NIS with the Nigerian High Commission in London. It covered Manchester, London, Cardiff and Aberdeen. The NCGM said the temporary service eased access for applicants outside London, but does not meet ongoing demand.
Residents face travel costs and time away
The community says Nigerians in Greater Manchester and cities including Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford and Newcastle often travel to London for consular services. The journeys can mean extra transport costs and time away from work, study or family responsibilities.
Bashiru-Kaka urged the High Commission, the NIS and other authorities to consider a regular Northern England service, with Manchester as a regional base. The community pointed to the city’s accessibility and the enrolment figures from the intervention as reasons for its proposal.
A permanent passport office in Manchester could reduce travel for applicants in the region. But staffing, service scope, funding and any opening date depend on a government decision that has not been announced.
A proposal, not a confirmed government plan
The NIS figures show the number of people enrolled during one short exercise. They do not establish how many people would use a year-round service. The Service said passport production and dispatch for enrolled applicants had begun during the intervention.
As of November 3, no announcement confirming a permanent Manchester office appeared in the sources reviewed. The proposal remains a community request, not an approved government plan.
Follow Global Trends has also reported on a separate dispute over fees during the UK passport intervention, including a refund announced by the Nigerian High Commission.
