The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended decentralised passport production, introducing a single centralised system for the first time in its 62-year history.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the reform on Thursday during an inspection of Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja.
He highlighted that since the establishment of the NIS in 1963, the country had never operated a unified passport production hub.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
The minister explained that outdated machines previously produced just 250 to 300 passports daily, whereas the centralised system has the capacity to deliver between 4,500 and 5,000 passports each day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing the reform as a “game changer” for Nigerian passport processing.
He further stressed the government’s commitment to reducing waiting times. “We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week. Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” Tunji-Ojo said.
According to him, centralisation will align Nigeria’s passport system with international best practice, ensuring greater uniformity and strengthening the global integrity of Nigerian travel documents.
The minister described the centralised production centre as a key step in bringing services closer to citizens, improving efficiency, and advancing comprehensive passport system reform.
He added that the development supports President Bola Tinubu’s broader reform agenda, enhancing NIS capacity and reshaping public service delivery in line with global standards.
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