The Federal Government has unveiled a Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre in Abuja, a landmark reform expected to eliminate backlogs, enhance efficiency, and align Nigeria’s passport issuance system with global best practices.
Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, who inspected the new facility, said the innovation will transform daily passport production output from the current 250–300 booklets per machine to between 4,500 and 5,000. With this upgrade, Nigerians can now expect approved passports to be ready for collection within 24 hours.
“The era of backlogs and manual personalisation is over. Nigerians can now expect faster, more reliable service as we strengthen the integrity of our travel documents,” Minister Tunji-Ojo said.
The Minister described the centre as a “big win” for both the administration and Nigerians, noting that it brings the country in line with global standards in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, India and Bangladesh, where centralised personalisation is the norm.
The Minister described the centre as a “big win” for both the administration and Nigerians, noting that it brings the country in line with global standards in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, India and Bangladesh, where centralised personalisation is the norm.
Key milestones of Passport reform programme
The Ministry of Interior outlined several milestones that are integral to Nigeria’s ongoing passport reform agenda:
- Migration to a single, uniform passport series: Eliminating discrepancies between older versions.
- Full integration into the ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD): Ensuring global authentication and verification of Nigerian passports.
- Deployment of the centralised system: Extending coverage to all passport-issuing centres nationwide, including Nigerian missions abroad.
According to the Ministry, these reforms aim to create a seamless ecosystem that not only simplifies service delivery but also strengthens the credibility of Nigerian passports for international travel.
A First in Nigeria’s Immigration History
The Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre is the first of its kind in the 62-year history of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). Officials say the project reinforces the government’s pledge to modernise Nigeria’s passport ecosystem, deliver efficient services to citizens, and improve the country’s global reputation.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his “unwavering support” of the reform agenda. He also recognised Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry; Kemi Nanna Nandap, Comptroller General of Immigration; officers of both the Ministry and the Nigeria Immigration Service; and the government’s technical partner, IRIS Smart Technologies Ltd.
“This project is a testament to our collective resolve to build enduring institutions rather than systems dependent on individuals,” the Minister added.
Elevating Nigeria’s Passport Ecosystem
By consolidating passport personalisation into a central hub, the government says it is eliminating inefficiencies that have long plagued the process. The initiative also underscores Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance public service delivery, a move observers say will boost citizens’ confidence in government institutions.
Officials also note that with Nigeria’s integration into the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s PKD, the country is strengthening global trust in its travel documents—a critical step for Nigerians travelling abroad.
Industry analysts say the reforms are also timely, as demand for international travel documents continues to rise amid growing diaspora communities and increasing global mobility. The ability to deliver passports within 24 hours not only enhances convenience for Nigerians but also places the country among the ranks of nations that prioritise efficient, secure, and modern travel documentation systems.
According to analysts, with the launch of the Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre, the Federal Government is signalling a decisive step toward digital transformation in public service, building a passport system that is both efficient and globally respected.
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