Nigeria High Commission in London Faces Backlash Over Use of Redeemed Churches for Passport Exercise

The Nigeria High Commission in London has come under renewed scrutiny after publishing a revised schedule for its December 2025 passport intervention exercise, with nearly all the selected venues located inside branches of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) or similar faith-based centres across the United Kingdom.

The mission, headquartered at Nigeria House on Northumberland Avenue, issued a public notice announcing changes to its earlier timetable for the mobile passport processing exercise in Glasgow, Cardiff, Aberdeen and Swansea.

It attributed the adjustments to unforeseen circumstances and urged members of the Nigerian community in the UK to rely only on the updated dates and locations listed in the latest circular.

In the updated arrangement, Nigeria Immigration Service officers will conduct the intervention exercise in Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow, Swansea and Aberdeen between 3 and 13 December.

But the choice of venues has ignited a wave of criticism from some Nigerians in the diaspora, who argue that the High Commission appears to be operating as an extension of the RCCG rather than maintaining the neutrality expected of a government mission.

The Birmingham centre is set to operate from RCCG Perry Barr on Lozells Road, while Cardiff applicants have been directed to RCCG Cardiff Metropolitan Tabernacle on Shakespeare Street. Swansea’s three-day exercise will hold at RCCG Place of Victory on Westbury Street.

In Glasgow, the mission chose Open Heavens Glasgow for the opening day and Fountain of Love Glasgow for the remaining sessions. Even the Aberdeen centre has been placed at Jesus House Aberdeen on Holburn Street.

The only non-religious venue on the list is the Manchester exercise, scheduled for Nigeria House Fallowfield on Platt Lane.

Critics argue that the use of church premises, repeatedly presented as “charity venues,” is nothing more than camouflage. They say the venues should be changed entirely to more accommodating and genuinely neutral environments that respect the religious diversity of the Nigerian diaspora.

A shift in dates and venues, and rising questions of neutrality

Applicants have been asked to come with their passport application form, printed appointment slip, old passport booklet, a prepared Royal Mail C4 special-delivery self-addressed envelope, and a £40 postal order payable to the Nigeria High Commission. For lost passports, a £150 postal order is required. But the disquiet has centred far less on procedural requirements and more on the symbolism of the High Commission’s venue choices.

One critic, Abdullah Abubakar, said the pattern of choosing RCCG-linked centres suggested an institutional bias at a time when Nigeria is grappling with deep religious and ethnic sensitivities. He described the trend as unfair and unbalanced, warning that it was unacceptable given the pressures already facing the nation.

Echoing this view, Adeleke Akinlade questioned whether the mission lacked the funds to rent neutral civic halls or if it was deliberately courting controversy. He added that relying on church buildings for a federal passport service was “so sad” and risked stirring unnecessary division.

Beyond the public outcry, AAN TV has sent an email to the High Commission requesting clarification on why government services are being hosted predominantly in religious buildings. As of the time of filing this report, the High Commission has not responded to the inquiry, further fuelling concerns over transparency and accountability.

The mission’s notice concludes with an apology for the inconvenience caused by the rescheduling and an appeal for applicants’ cooperation.

Yet pressure continues to mount on the Commission to explain the rationale behind choosing venues tied closely to one religious denomination, and to consider relocating the exercise to spaces that reflect the inclusivity expected of a national institution serving a diverse diaspora community.

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