NIS debunks regional passport ban rumours, details nationwide reform rollout
Nigeria Immigration Service NIS
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has dismissed viral online claims that passports are being withheld from a specific region, labeling the reports as “false, misleading, and a misrepresentation” of its ongoing modernisation efforts.
In a statement, the NIS clarified that recent changes form part of a phased onboarding system to shift passport offices, including foreign missions, to a centralised production model.
Launched in 2024, the initiative aims to boost efficiency, fortify system integrity, and heighten security in Nigeria’s passport processes—without excluding any citizens.
Passport offices in North East and North Central states, such as Borno, Yobe, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau, have already transitioned successfully.
Meanwhile, 35 international stations spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America are now integrated.
The NIS revealed that offices in the five South East states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—plus foreign missions in Italy, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, and Austria, are in the final migration phase, set for completion by the end of Q1 2026.
To minimize disruptions, the agency has implemented a rigorous work-plan calendar ensuring steady passport processing and delivery.
The NIS called on the public to ignore speculative stories that breed tension, pledging equitable service and elevated standards for all Nigerians.
