The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has moved to douse concerns over the ongoing passport intervention exercise in the United Kingdom, explaining that the disruption witnessed in Manchester was caused by a brief technical failure, SavannahNewnow learnt.
The clarification followed videos circulated on social media on Monday showing frustrated applicants gathered outside the Manchester intervention centre amid delays in biometric capturing.
While acknowledging the concerns of applicants, the NIS said the technical glitch was quickly resolved and that the passport intervention exercise was never suspended.
The Service said operations have since resumed, with applicants currently being attended to in London in an orderly and coordinated manner.
According to the NIS, 230 applicants with scheduled appointments were processed on the first day of the exercise.
Of this number, 90 applicants were attended to in London, while 140 were processed in Manchester.
The figures, the Service said, demonstrate that the exercise continued despite the temporary technical setback.
The special intervention exercise was introduced to provide passport services to Nigerians resident in the UK, particularly those with outstanding applications, renewals and other pending passport-related matters.
The NIS assured applicants in London that officials were attending to those with scheduled appointments and that the process was proceeding as planned.
It stressed that the incident in Manchester was a technical challenge, not a shutdown or abandonment of the intervention exercise.
With the biometric system restored, the Service said applicants can continue to access the intervention services as scheduled.
The NIS urged Nigerians in the UK to remain calm, noting that the passport intervention exercise remains fully operational.
