Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), to permit Nigerians in diaspora to return to Nigeria with their expired International Passports.
Aregbesola gave the order while responding to a complaint laid by a Nigerian-American citizen, Jamui Kasumu, at the Alausa Passport Office during his recent unscheduled visit to the facility in Lagos.
Kasumu complained to the Minister that he was prevented by Nigeria Immigration in America and Delta airline from coming to Nigeria due to an expired Nigerian passport.
Kasumu explained that he was able to come back to Nigeria after getting a travel certificate through a relation in Nigeria.
He said: “I am appealing to you sir that the Immigration should allow Nigerians with expired Passport to come back to their country.”
In his response, Aregbesola said Nigerians in diaspora could come back home with an expired or non-expired Nigerian passport.
While talking further, the Honourable Minister said no Nigerian needed travel certificate to travel back home, except children born by Nigerians, whose identities have not been established according to immigration rule.
He said: “I am using this medium to instruct all Nigeria Immigration Officers World-Wide to accord Nigerian travellers with expired Passport use such passports to return safely back home henceforth.”
Also, the Minister advised Nigerians in diaspora to update their travel document on time to avoid rush during emergencies.
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