Historic Reform as Nigeria Immigration Service Centralises Passport Production for the First Time in 62 Years, Promises Faster, More Efficient Delivery

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially shut down its long-standing system of producing passports across multiple centres nationwide, transitioning instead to a single, centralised production hub for the first time since its creation in 1963.

The milestone reform was announced by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Thursday during an inspection tour of Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre located at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja.

According to the minister, this marks a revolutionary shift in the history of Nigeria’s passport services, as no centralised system had ever been in place since the establishment of the immigration service over six decades ago.

“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said with optimism.

Explaining the difference between the old system and the new reform-driven structure, he noted that outdated machines across the country could only produce between 250 and 300 passports daily. In contrast, the centralised system has a remarkable capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.

“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he said, hailing it as a game-changer in passport production and service delivery.

The minister further disclosed that the government’s promise of a two-week turnaround time for passports was already being surpassed, with efforts now geared toward delivering travel documents within one week.

“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.

Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” he emphasised.

Dr. Tunji-Ojo also stressed that the centralisation of passport production would bring Nigeria in line with global best practices, enhance uniformity, and strengthen the international credibility of the Nigerian passport.

He described the reform as a significant leap toward not just efficiency but also a culture of transparency and accountability in public service.

According to him, the centralised production system is fully aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s broader reform agenda aimed at modernising public institutions, boosting NIS capacity, and changing the overall narrative of service delivery in Nigeria.

With this bold step, Nigerians can now look forward to faster, more reliable, and globally respected passport services, ending decades of inefficiency and setting a new standard in the nation’s immigration history.