A Nigerian living in the UK took to Twitter to complain about touts who demand £100 for appointment dates at the Nigerian High Commission in London.
The Twitter user, Kayode Ogundamisi@ogundamisi recounted in his thread:
Thread!
I have been defending the Nigerian High Commission in the UK after my daughters testimony last year when they applied for, recieved their first Nigerian passport, however things have gone downhill. Touts operate from a McDonald's collecting £100 to for appointments dates.— Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) August 20, 2019
The thread caught the attention of other Nigerians living abroad as they recounted their experiences.
Lalu Chekwas @gburusk said: “The Nigerian Embassy in South Korea is not left out in the dirty act. Just last month, everyone that applied for a passport was forced to pay $100 through the Nigerian Community. The same thing happened last year when the exercise took place. Authorities concerned should check it”.
@IcyrilO added: “You found out late sir. The McDonald office of Nigerian High Commission in London has been in existence for a few years now”
Another identified as @betanaija said: “My younger brother confirmed this to me last weekend. I invited him to the US for this yr’s Thanksgiving. I shouted when he told me he’d have to pay sb £100 for renewal otherwise he’d have to wait for 6months. Sad!”
Back home in Nigeria, an Immigration Assistant, Kehinde Adebimpe was arrested in July along with 14 others at the Immigration Service passport office for allegedly extorting money from citizens applying for international passports.
On August 19, 2017, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) ordered an investigation into cases of bribery and corruption at passport offices as reported by Premium Times.
The report showed how immigration officers, in well-coordinated racketeering, rip-off applicants, charging nearly double the approved amount to process international passports for unsuspecting Nigerians.
The report also revealed how touts operating in connivance with immigration officers, receive payment and process bank transactions on behalf of Immigration officers.
The spokesperson of Nigeria Immigration Service, Sunday James said that applicants are advised to complete online applications and upload relevant documents to avoid being exploited.