The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, adopting a centralised system for the first time in its 62-year history.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the reform on Thursday while inspecting the newly established Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja.
According to the minister, since the creation of NIS in 1963, the country had never operated a single passport production hub until now, describing the move as a “major milestone in Nigeria’s reform agenda.”
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He revealed that the outdated machines could only produce between 250 and 300 passports daily, while the new centralised system can process between 4,500 and 5,000 daily.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he noted, describing it as a game-changer.
Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed the ministry’s promise of a two-week delivery timeline for passports, adding that efforts are underway to reduce processing time to just one week through automation and optimisation.
He emphasised that the centralisation, which aligns with global standards, would enhance uniformity, strengthen the integrity of Nigerian passports worldwide, and improve service delivery in line with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda.
“This is about building efficiency, restoring confidence, and ensuring that Nigerians get the services they deserve,” he added.
