NIS clarifies passport centralisation reform, reaffirms nationwide service delivery

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has clarified that the ongoing centralisation of passport production is an operational reform that will not affect passport processing and issuance at any passport office across the country or at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad.

The Service made the clarification in a press statement issued on Wednesday following public enquiries and misconceptions arising from the phased migration of passport production from passport offices in the six geopolitical zones to the Central Personalization Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja.

According to the Service, the reform is part of a broader modernisation programme aimed at strengthening the security, integrity and efficiency of Nigeria’s passport issuance system.

“The migration of production in passport offices to the Central Personalization Centre is purely operational and does not in any way stop the processing and issuance of passport at any passport office within the country or at designated Nigeria’s Embassies and Consulates abroad,” the statement read.

The NIS explained that the migration is being implemented through a five-phase plan designed to minimise operational risks, prevent service disruption and ensure scalability as passport offices and foreign missions are integrated into the new system.

It disclosed that the first phase, completed in January 2025, covered passport offices in parts of the North Central and North East, as well as 30 Nigerian missions across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East and Oceania.

The second phase, completed in March 2026, onboarded passport offices in the South East, parts of the South West and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside selected missions in Europe.

Similarly, the third phase, completed in June 2026, covered passport offices in the South South, North West and additional South West states, as well as more European missions.

According to the implementation schedule, the fourth phase is slated for August 2026 and will begin with passport offices in Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Bauchi states.

The Service maintained that the reform is intended solely to improve operational efficiency and enhance service delivery, urging members of the public to disregard misconceptions suggesting that passport processing has been halted.

The NIS reaffirmed its commitment to providing seamless passport services nationwide and at Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad throughout the implementation of the centralisation reform.