By Tracy Moses
The Nigerian Embassy in Qatar has improved passport services for Nigerians in the Gulf state, with applicants now receiving newly produced travel documents within about two weeks of biometric capture.
The improvement followed a dedicated passport intervention exercise conducted by the mission in Doha from August 11 to 21, 2026, during which applications from 751 Nigerian nationals were processed.
Of the applications handled during the 10-day exercise, 441 were for five-year passports, while 310 were for 10-year passports.
Distribution of the completed passports commenced on September 18, less than a month after the biometric capture exercise ended, significantly reducing the waiting period for applicants.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Qatar, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described the development as a major milestone in the mission’s efforts to improve consular services and respond more effectively to the needs of Nigerians living in the country.
“The fact that passports are now being completed and returned within about two weeks of capture demonstrates our commitment to improving service delivery and responding to the needs of our community,” Yakubu told reporters.
He stressed the importance of valid passports to Nigerians living abroad, particularly for international travel, employment and residency requirements.
The improved turnaround time comes amid continued demand for consular services among Nigerians in Qatar, making efficient access to essential travel documents increasingly important.
Passport issuance and renewal are among the key consular responsibilities of Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad. Delays in obtaining valid travel documents can disrupt citizens’ travel plans and, in some cases, affect employment and residency arrangements.
The intervention exercise enabled the embassy to process a significant number of applications within a defined period while improving the turnaround time for applicants.
With the distribution of completed passports beginning on September 18, the mission has demonstrated a more responsive approach to passport-related requests from the Nigerian community.
The development is expected to ease the burden on Nigerians requiring new or renewed passports and further improve the delivery of consular services by the mission.