In a startling revelation that has rattled Nigeria’s diplomatic circles, a top government official has disclosed that the Ministry of Interior — not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — is responsible for the ongoing passport renewal scandal plaguing Nigerian citizens in Qatar.
For over five months, many Nigerians residing in the Gulf nation have been left stranded after paying as much as N315,000 for passport renewals, with no issuance or meaningful updates from the Nigerian Embassy in Doha.
“The blame has been wrongly placed on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the official stated under condition of anonymity. “The Interior Ministry is solely in charge of passport production and processing — from policy to technical logistics.”
Affected Nigerians have taken to social media and community platforms, sharing stories of missed job opportunities, travel disruptions, and legal troubles resulting from expired travel documents. Many expressed frustration at the silence and lack of accountability from Nigerian authorities.
One affected resident, a healthcare worker in Doha, said, “We paid since February. They collected our biometric data, promised delivery in weeks, but till now — nothing. And no one is giving us answers.”
The scandal has sparked outrage among diaspora groups, with some calling for a formal probe into what they describe as an “exploitative racket targeting vulnerable citizens abroad.”
The official noted that the Interior Ministry’s failure to address production bottlenecks and oversight lapses is at the root of the delay. He also hinted at a backlog of unprocessed renewals due to logistical issues with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) — an agency under the Interior Ministry’s supervision.
With mounting pressure, civil rights groups are now urging President Tinibu to intervene decisively and overhaul the passport issuance system, both at home and abroad.
As frustrated citizens continue to count the cost of official inaction, the wait for justice — and their renewed passports — drags on.
@SaharaReporters
About The Author
