Business NewsSeptember 27, 2025

Nigeria Launches First Centralised Passport Centre, Promises One-Week Delivery

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The Federal Government has unveiled Nigeria’s first Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre in Abuja, a facility designed to eliminate backlogs and ensure faster passport delivery nationwide.

Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who inspected the newly completed centre on Thursday, said the project marks a historic milestone in the 62-year history of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

According to him, the central facility will guarantee delivery of passports within one week—and in some cases, within 24 hours after approval.

“This centre means the era of passport backlog is over. With the new system, once an application is approved, Nigerians can get their passports within 24 hours. It is about efficiency, productivity, and bringing service closer to the people,” the Minister stated.

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End of Decentralised Passport Production

Previously, Nigeria operated over 90 personalisation centres worldwide, a structure Tunji-Ojo described as inefficient and difficult to manage. By contrast, countries like the United States, United Kingdom, France, and India run one or two centralised facilities.

The new Abuja centre is equipped with advanced machines capable of producing 1,000 passports per hour and up to 5,000 daily.

“Our old instant machines could only handle 250 to 300 per day. This new technology produces 4,500 to 5,000 in a single day. In just four to five hours of operation, NIS can meet the daily demand of Nigerians,” he explained.

A Unified Passport Regime

Tunji-Ojo also announced the end of Nigeria’s multiple passport series, noting that the country now operates a single enhanced passport system.

“We inherited two series—the A and B. Today, with support from our technical partners, we have unified them into one. No two Nigerians will again carry different passport types. This strengthens the integrity of our travel document both at home and abroad,” he said.

He added that all Nigerian missions abroad have now migrated to the enhanced passport, making the document globally uniform and secure.

Global Recognition and Security

Nigeria has also joined the Public Key Directory (PKD), the international authentication system for travel documents. This, the Minister said, enhances the global trustworthiness of Nigerian passports.

“The PKI-PKD has become a reality under the Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring our passports can be validated anywhere in the world,” he noted.

Reforming the System

Tunji-Ojo recalled that upon assuming office, his administration inherited a backlog of over 204,000 passports. By prioritising institution-based systems rather than individuals, he said, production has been streamlined and the backlog cleared.

He credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for backing the reform, describing the centralised facility as the first of its kind since the Immigration Service was established in 1963.

The Minister also commended the Permanent Secretary, Immigration officers, staff of the Interior Ministry, and technical partner IRIS Smart Technologies for supporting and funding the project in collaboration with government.