A senior official within the Nigerian government has revealed that the blame for the ongoing passport renewal crisis affecting Nigerians in Qatar lies squarely with the Ministry of Interior, not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chronicles Reporters has gathered.
This revelation comes after months of outcry by Nigerians stranded in Doha. These individuals had each paid a hefty sum of N315,000 through the Nigerian Embassy in Qatar for passport renewal, only to be left waiting for over five months without receiving their new passports.
The insider, speaking under anonymity, clarified that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no operational role in passport issuance. According to the source, all matters related to Nigerian passports are solely under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no involvement in the issuance of Nigerian passports or visas. That responsibility lies entirely with the Ministry of Interior,” the source said.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service is the agency authorized to process and issue passports, as well as manage visa applications. Embassies and high commissions only provide logistical support for immigration officers deployed to work abroad,” the source continued.
According to the source, these immigration officers stationed in embassies report directly to the Ministry of Interior, and not to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The Foreign Affairs Ministry handles consular and diplomatic responsibilities, but it does not manage documentation like passports or visas,” the official emphasized.
This disclosure effectively shifts the accountability for the scandal to the Ministry of Interior, which supervises the Immigration Service and oversees passport-related matters globally.
Chronicles Reporters previously reported that over 500 Nigerians living in Qatar had each paid approximately 750 Qatari Riyals (equivalent to N315,000) to renew their passports.
The embassy had reportedly assured them that officers from Nigeria, who arrived in February 2025, would process their documents swiftly. Yet months later, none of the applicants had received their renewed passports, a refund, or any official update from embassy officials.
Frustrated, many affected individuals have labelled the entire situation as “a scam” and “state-backed fraud.”
One of the affected Nigerians narrated how the absence of passport services in previous years had already left them stranded. “We’ve lived in Qatar for a long time. Passport renewal services weren’t available before. After continuous complaints, the embassy promised to send immigration officers from Nigeria,” he said.
“They finally came in February and asked us to pay 750 Qatari Riyals each for the renewal. They claimed it would be done quickly. But since then, nothing. We’ve returned several times to the embassy to ask for updates, but they just keep saying they’ll get back to us,” he added.
Another Nigerian confirmed the embassy’s historical failure in providing passport services. According to him, the embassy’s decision to fly in immigration officers came only after intense pressure from the Nigerian community.
“It was becoming unbearable. Many of us had expired passports and couldn’t travel. Some even considered going back to Nigeria just to get it done. That’s when the embassy agreed to bring in officials from home,” the source explained.
“But since collecting our money and details, they’ve gone silent. No one has received anything—not even a refund.”
Many of those affected say the delay is having severe consequences on their lives. With expired passports, they’re unable to secure employment, update bank documentation, or even make plans to return home.
“People are losing job opportunities. Bank accounts are being restricted. Some of us want to go back to Nigeria, but direct flights are expensive and we can’t even book without valid travel documents. The embassy took our money and ghosted us,” another complainant said.
He stressed that the money was paid directly to the Nigerian Embassy in Doha and not through any private agent, stating, “This is pure fraud happening within an official government institution.”
This scandal has once again exposed the chronic dysfunction within Nigeria’s immigration system and the broader issues facing its citizens abroad who often suffer due to negligence and lack of oversight.
When Chronicles Reporters reached out to the spokesperson for the Nigeria Immigration Service, Akinsola Akinlabi, for a response, he stated, “I have seen what you sent to me. Let me take my time. I’ll get back to you later.”
As of the time of filing this report, no further communication had been received from Mr. Akinlabi.
However, an Immigration Service official who spoke anonymously confirmed the situation and promised swift resolution. “We are aware of the delay and have people working round the clock to resolve it. The problem arose due to some technical glitches. The passports should be ready in the next two weeks,” the official assured.
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