Nigerian Immigration Responds After Fisayo Soyombo Calls Out Agency Over Passport Delay
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has responded following a public outcry by investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo over the prolonged delay in the processing of his international passport.
Soyombo had taken to social media to express frustration after waiting six months for his passport renewal despite completing payment and fulfilling all official requirements. According to the journalist, repeated efforts to get clarification yielded no concrete explanation, prompting him to publicly criticise the system. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
In a detailed post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Soyombo revealed that just hours after calling out the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service, his passport status was suddenly updated to “issued/collected.”
He linked the development to public pressure, questioning why the system only appeared to function after online scrutiny.
“For six months, the NIS held on to my passport renewal application. However, a few hours after my social media posts calling out the Interior Minister’s failed ‘contactless’ application promise, my passport status was suddenly activated,” Soyombo wrote.
The journalist further argued that the incident demonstrated that Nigeria’s passport processing system could work if there was genuine commitment from leadership and civil servants, as well as sustained public demand for accountability.
Soyombo also criticised what he described as coordinated online attacks by individuals attempting to discredit his complaint, insisting that citizens should not be forced to resort to bribery or physical visits to immigration offices to access services they have already paid for.
He maintained that he would not visit any NIS office in person, stressing that the “contactless” passport processing policy announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, promised to eliminate physical contact with immigration officials. According to him, he paid for home delivery and expects the service to be honoured.
The journalist’s complaint quickly gained traction online, triggering widespread reactions from Nigerians who shared similar experiences of delayed passport processing. Many described the situation as emblematic of persistent inefficiencies within government agencies responsible for essential documents.
In response to the growing attention, the Nigeria Immigration Service issued a statement acknowledging awareness of Soyombo’s complaint and assuring the public that the matter was being reviewed.
The Service reiterated its commitment to improving service delivery and clearing backlogs affecting passport issuance nationwide. While the NIS did not provide specific details regarding the delay in Soyombo’s case, it cited operational challenges, including high demand and shortages of passport booklets, as factors affecting processing timelines.
