The Nigerian Embassy in Qatar has begun issuing and renewing passports in about two weeks after conducting a 10-day intervention exercise in Doha that processed applications from 751 Nigerian nationals.
The exercise, which ran from August 11 to 21, 2026, was aimed at addressing passport applications within a dedicated period, according to a statement issued by the mission on Monday.
Of the applications handled, 441 were for five-year passports, while 310 were for 10-year passports.
The embassy said the completed travel documents began to be distributed on September 18, less than a month after applicants underwent biometric capture.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Qatar, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described the accelerated processing as a significant achievement for the mission’s consular operations.
“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 said the mission understood the importance of valid passports to Nigerians residing in Qatar, particularly in relation to international travel, employment and residency status.
READ ALSO:Amina Mohammed Rules Out Politics, Plans Return To Nigeria After UN Tenure
The embassy said the initiative was introduced in response to increasing demand for consular services from Nigeria’s growing expatriate community in the Gulf country.
It said the intervention allowed passport applications to be handled during a dedicated period, after which production and distribution of the documents proceeded, with completed passports reaching applicants less than a month after biometric capture.
According to the mission, the faster process is expected to reduce the period Nigerians in Qatar spend waiting for new or renewed passports, especially applicants whose travel plans, jobs or residency arrangements depend on valid documents.
The exercise also underscores the role of Nigerian diplomatic missions in providing essential services to citizens abroad, with passport issuance and renewal among the major consular services offered by the missions.
With 751 applications processed during the intervention, the embassy said beneficiaries were able to receive their passports considerably earlier than they would under conventional diplomatic processing timelines.
For Nigerians who took part in the Doha exercise, the distribution of completed passports, which began on September 18, represented the final stage of the intervention following biometric capture.
The mission said the initiative forms part of its efforts to improve the efficiency and delivery of consular services to Nigerians living in Qatar.