A Nigerian woman has taken to social media to criticise the Nigerian Embassy in Sweden over alleged inefficiency in handling passport renewal and issuance for Nigerians living in Europe.
In a post shared on X, the woman said she visited the embassy two days ago to renew her passport, only to be turned back alongside several other Nigerians who had travelled from different parts of Europe for the same purpose.
According to her, some applicants had flown into Sweden from countries such as Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland and other parts of Sweden to regularise their passports. However, embassy officials reportedly told them that the process could not continue due to a lack of “connection with Abuja.”
She said all affected applicants, including those with confirmed appointments, were asked to return another time, despite having spent significant sums on flight tickets, trains and ferry transport.
The woman added that some Nigerians she met at the embassy disclosed that it was their second time experiencing the same issue after making similar trips in the past.
“I went to the Nigerian embassy in Sweden to renew my passport. People had travelled from Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland, and different parts of Sweden just for their biometrics. None of us were captured. The excuse was ‘no connection from Abuja,’” she wrote.
She described the situation as embarrassing and frustrating, noting that the problem was not peculiar to the Swedish mission alone, as similar complaints had been reported at other Nigerian embassies.
Despite her criticism, she commended the Nigerian ambassador to Sweden, describing him as compassionate and attentive, saying he personally addressed the applicants and expressed sympathy over the situation.
She also recalled that the embassy used to be one of the most efficient in Europe, where applicants could complete passport renewals and receive their documents the same day. According to her, the challenges began after the embassy lost the authority to print passports locally.
The woman further recounted the experience of a Nigerian who travelled from Finland for the second time, only to encounter the same issue, forcing him to lodge in a hotel because he could not afford another return trip.
“This is the first time I’ve seen citizens show up for an appointment at their own country’s embassy and be turned away because there’s ‘no connection’ with headquarters, with no apology or compensation,” she added.
The post has since sparked reactions online, with many Nigerians sharing similar experiences and calling on authorities to urgently address passport processing challenges at Nigerian embassies abroad.