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Nigerians in the diaspora rarely have positive stories to share about their experiences with our own country institutions. We’ve heard stories of how extortion, neglect, and lack of credibility have left the system inefficient. But lately, I have heard and witnessed firsthand how promising the Nigerian Immigration Centre in London has become under Minister Bunmi Tunji-Ojo. It is refreshing to be alive to witness a step being taken to achieve the new Nigeria we’ve all been dreaming of.
During my recent visit to the Nigerian Immigration Service Centre in London, I witnessed a level of professionalism and efficiency that was beyond my expectations. I have had my own fair share of bad experiences, so I approached the centre cautiously, bracing for the worst. What I met instead was a masterclass in public service delivery. Gone are the days when touts roamed freely outside the premises, harassing and extorting desperate Nigerians. Today, the environment is properly controlled. From the very moment one steps into the vicinity of the centre, a sense of dignity and order welcomes you.
The transformation in the customer service left me in awe. This is an area where, historically, government institutions have woefully underperformed, not just outside Nigeria but within. A larger percentage of Nigerians are familiar with the lackadaisical attitude, the ‘I-better-pass-you’ face, and the ‘I have the upper hand and you should respect me or I won’t attend to you’ reactions from many government workers. We were used to begging to receive quality services, but I am beyond grateful things have changed.
Staff members were courteous and helpful to ensure visitors were properly guided. I was surprised that what used to be an endless, chaotic queue dissolved systematically within thirty minutes.
In less than an hour, I was attended to, something I never thought possible in a Nigerian institution. I mean, it’s not battering my nation. It’s just the mediocrity we’ve been conditioned to for decades.
The Contactless Passport Renewal, an innovation introduced by the Interior Minister fondly called BTO, is something I’m yet to fully get over. For a country tagged the giant of Africa, creating and implementing helpful innovations should set us apart from the rest of African countries, but the reverse is the case. Nigerians suffered greatly due to the lack of automation of systems. Nigerians in the diaspora suffered a great deal with passport renewal. Travelling hours from home, fighting touts and extortion, and then waiting days, if not months, to get the passport delivered. So, imagine our joy when the contactless application started. For us, it was the joy of finally being remembered by our motherland.
After my capture at the Nigeria Immigration Centre in London, I visited a family friend in Erith, but before I got to my house in Newcastle, my passport was already waiting for me at home. Nigeria Immigration Centre in London feels like a totally different place. I could barely believe it was the same place where I had to pay extra money just to get my son’s passport done two years ago. It’s so good to see the Nigerian government make things better.
