Nigerians in Germany frustrated over passport renewal delays

Nigerians in Germany have voiced deep frustration over delays in their passport renewal process.

Many have reported waiting for up to 3 months or more to receive their renewed passports, leading to inconvenience and financial strain.

Some who applied for renewals in February 2024 are still yet to receive their passports in May.

This prolonged delay has prompted members of the Nigerian community in Germany to call for urgent action to address the underlying issues causing the backlog in passport issuance.

In a public letter on X addressed to Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Nigerian Minister of Interior, Nigerians in Germany highlighted the urgent need for intervention to streamline the passport renewal process and ensure timely service delivery to citizens abroad.

The letter released Monday read, “For several months now, there have been significant delays in the renewal process for Nigerian passports at the Berlin embassy. Many Nigerians residing in Germany have experienced delays of up to three months or more in receiving their renewed passports.

“These delays have caused immense inconvenience and financial strain for individuals and families, as they have had to endure multiple inconveniences and expenses, including travel costs while waiting for their passports to be processed.

“We have numerous cases of Nigerians who submitted their passport renewal applications at the Berlin embassy since February 2024 and are yet to receive their passports. Despite their efforts and expenses, they continue to face uncertainty and frustration. This situation has led to several members of our community crying out for help and expressing deep dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs.

“We understand the importance of passport issuance for Nigerians living abroad and the necessity for timely and efficient service delivery. Therefore, we kindly request your intervention in resolving this matter as soon as possible. We urge you to take immediate steps to streamline the passport renewal process, address any existing bottlenecks, and ensure that Nigerians in Germany receive their passports within a reasonable timeframe”.

“We believe that resolving these delays will not only alleviate the burden on our community members but also demonstrate the government’s commitment to serving its citizens both at home and abroad.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We eagerly await your prompt action and assistance in resolving the passport issuance delays faced by Nigerians in Germany.”

In March, Nigeria began online passport processing for citizens abroad through the official immigration portal.

The reform aims to simplify and streamline the passport application and collection process for Nigerians living far away from the Nigerian missions in different countries.

Although physical appearance is still required for passport renewals, the minister assured the public of plans to fully automate the process to eliminate inconveniences.

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