The Federal Government has officially centralized Nigeria’s passport production process, ending the practice of multiple centres that had been in place for 62 years. This reform, unveiled by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), marks a significant shift in how passports are issued and processed across the country.

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement on Thursday while inspecting the newly established Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja. He highlighted that this is the first time since the NIS was founded in 1963 that Nigeria would operate a single, centralised passport production facility.

“The project is fully operational, and Nigeria is now positioned to provide more efficient and productive passport services,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo stated. He explained that the old system, which relied on outdated machinery, could produce only 250 to 300 passports daily. In stark contrast, the new system is capable of producing between 4,500 and 5,000 passports each day.

Thanks to this significant upgrade, the NIS is now capable of meeting daily demand within just four to five hours of operation, a massive improvement that aligns with the government’s promise of faster service. Tunji-Ojo also reiterated the commitment to reducing passport processing times from two weeks to potentially just one week.

The move to centralise passport production is a key part of Nigeria’s broader push for greater automation and optimisation of government services. Dr. Tunji-Ojo emphasised that this reform will not only make passport services more accessible to Nigerians but will also ensure higher quality and uniformity in the documents issued, meeting global standards and enhancing the integrity of Nigerian passports internationally.

This transformation, he added, is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s broader reform agenda, positioning the NIS to deliver more efficient and reliable service to citizens while driving long-term improvements in Nigeria’s administrative systems.

With this centralised approach, the NIS is set to revolutionize the passport issuance process, marking a milestone in the country’s commitment to enhancing public sector efficiency and service delivery.