Federal government of Nigeria has instructed airlines to board citizens returning home with expired passports “without any hindrance”.
Gatekeepers News reports that the directive was contained in a letter signed by the Special Assistant to the Comptroller-General (Foreign Desk), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), B.M. Lawal on December 9, 2022.
The letter, issued and signed on behalf of the comptroller-general of the NIS, was addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, all Heads of Missions, Immigration Attachés, Airports Comptrollers, and airlines.
In November, the NIS said Nigerians in the diaspora with expired passports can return home without hassles.
According to the letter, the federal government further directed its foreign missions to circulate the information to airline operators and border authorities of host countries.
The letter read, “I am directed to respectfully present the compliments of the comptroller-general of [the] Nigeria Immigration Service and notify all relevant authorities that the federal government of Nigeria has approved that Nigerians returning home can be admitted into the country with their expired Nigerian passports.
“Consequently, all airlines are requested to allow holders of expired Nigerian passports to board without any hindrance.
“In addition, all Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad are kindly requested to circulate this information to airlines operators and border authorities of host countries for their necessary action.”
“While forwarding the above for your information, please accept the assurances of the comptroller-general of [the] immigration service.”
