The Ekiti Parapo UK, the socio-cultural charity organisation serving as the umbrella body for Ekiti indigenes resident in the United Kingdom, has commended the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for its ongoing intervention programme aimed at addressing passport-related challenges faced by Nigerians in the diaspora.

The organisation described the intervention as a welcome development and a significant relief for Nigerians who have experienced prolonged delays in obtaining or renewing their Nigerian passports, urging Ekiti indigenes across the United Kingdom to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Speaking to newsmen in London, the President of Ekiti Parapo UK, Comrade Olamide Idowu, and the organisation’s Public Relations Officer, Tunde Oluwasimirin, expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Immigration Service for responding to the concerns of Nigerians in the UK and for putting measures in place to accelerate the passport process.

According to the organisation, the intervention programme has already attended to more than 2,000 people, demonstrating the scale of the demand for passport services among Nigerians resident in the United Kingdom.

The Ekiti Parapo UK leadership acknowledged that the first day of the exercise experienced some initial teething problems, which contributed to a slower process. However, the organisation commended the immigration officers for their professionalism, commitment and determination to ensure that the challenges did not persist.

They noted that the officers remained at work until approximately 11:00 p.m. on the first day in an effort to attend to applicants and resolve the initial difficulties.

The organisation said the development demonstrated the commitment of the officers to providing service to Nigerians in the diaspora.

“Although there were some challenges on the first day, which is understandable with an exercise of this magnitude, what impressed us was the response of the officers,” the Ekiti Parapo UK leadership said.

“They did not simply close for the day and leave people unattended. They stayed until around 11 p.m. to ensure that the challenges were addressed and that the situation did not extend into subsequent days. Since then, the process has been much more seamless.”

Ekiti Parapo UK further praised the Nigerian Immigration Service personnel involved in the exercise for their patience and dedication in dealing with the large number of applicants.

The organisation said passport services remain particularly important to Nigerians living abroad, as a valid Nigerian passport is essential for international travel, identification and a range of administrative and immigration-related processes.

It therefore encouraged Ekiti indigenes who have outstanding passport applications, renewals or related issues to make enquiries and determine whether they can benefit from the current intervention programme.

The organisation also appealed to applicants to follow the official procedures and requirements of the Nigerian Immigration Service, provide the necessary documentation and cooperate with officials to ensure that the exercise continues to run smoothly.

The President, Comrade Olamide Idowu, stressed the importance of the Nigerian diaspora taking advantage of opportunities that are designed to resolve challenges affecting them.

“We are particularly pleased to see an intervention of this nature because it directly addresses a problem that affects many Nigerians living outside the country. As Ekiti Parapo UK, our responsibility is not only to unite and promote the interests of Ekiti people in the UK, but also to ensure that our people are aware of opportunities and interventions that can make their lives easier,” he said.

The Public Relations Officer, Tunde Oluwasimirin, also urged Ekiti indigenes to share information about the intervention with family members, friends and other Nigerians who may benefit from it.

He said the organisation would continue to use its communication channels to disseminate useful information to Ekiti people in the UK.

“Information is very important. There may be Ekiti indigenes who are unaware of the intervention or who may assume that their passport issue cannot be resolved. We encourage everyone who may benefit to make the necessary enquiries and take advantage of the opportunity,” Oluwasimirin said.

He added that the positive experience recorded after the initial challenges was encouraging and deserved recognition.

“From what we have observed, the officers have shown commitment to ensuring that people are attended to. The fact that they were willing to stay until late on the first day to resolve the initial problems speaks to their dedication. We commend them for that.”

Ekiti Parapo UK reiterated its appreciation to the Nigerian Immigration Service for the intervention and expressed hope that the exercise would continue to provide relief to Nigerians across the United Kingdom.

The organisation also encouraged Nigerians in the UK to obtain information directly from the appropriate Nigerian Immigration Service channels regarding eligibility, documentation, appointment arrangements and other requirements before attending.