NIS REFUTES CLAIMS OF REGIONAL DISQUALIFICATION IN PASSPORT ISSUANCE

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has dismissed reports circulating online that a specific region of the country has been excluded from passport issuance, describing the claims as false and misleading.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Service said the reports misrepresented ongoing reforms by the federal government to modernise Nigeria’s passport production and administration system.

According to the NIS, the reforms involve a phased onboarding process aimed at migrating passport offices across the country and at Nigerian foreign missions to a centralised production framework. The initiative, which began in 2024, is designed to enhance efficiency, strengthen security, and improve the integrity of the passport issuance process without excluding any citizen.

The Service disclosed that passport offices in the North East and North Central states of Borno, Yobe, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau have already been successfully onboarded. It added that 35 international passport stations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America are also fully integrated into the new system.

NIS further stated that the five South East states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo are currently undergoing scheduled migration to the centralised framework. In addition, five international passport stations in Italy, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, and Austria are being onboarded, with the process expected to be completed within the first quarter of 2026.

The Service noted that a strict work-plan calendar has been established to ensure a smooth transition and prevent disruptions to passport processing and delivery timelines.

It urged the public to disregard speculative narratives capable of creating unnecessary tension, reiterating its commitment to equitable service delivery and operational excellence nationwide.