The Federal Government has announced that Nigerians in the diaspora with expired passport would no longer require visas to visit home.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration Service (CGIS) Isah Jere Idris, disclosed this in a letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and dated 9th December 2022.

According to him, the FG has permitted Nigerians abroad with expired passports to return home “without hindrance”.

Idris, however, stated that the returnees must show their expired Nigeria passport to ensure they were truly citizens.

The letter entitled: Authority to Board/Admit Nigerians with Expired Nigeria Passports, was copied to all Head of Mission, Immigration Attaches, Airport Comptrollers, and Airlines.

It reads: “I am directed to respectfully present the compliments of the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service and notify all relevant authorities that the Federal government has approved that Nigerians returning home can be admitted into the country with their expired Nigerian passports.

“Consequently, all airlines are requested to allow holders of expired Nigerian passports to board without let or hindrance.

“In addition, all Nigerian diplomatic Mission abroad are kindly requested to circulate this information to airlines operators and border authorities of host countries for their necessary action.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola had revealed that the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) denied no fewer than 1,681 foreigners visas to the country.