By Adebola Muili
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has defended the ongoing migration of passport production from various passport offices across the country to its centralised production facility in Abuja, saying the reform will strengthen security, improve efficiency and eliminate sharp practices in the passport processing chain.
The Service also assured Nigerians that the migration of passport production does not mean the closure of passport centres, as applicants can still submit applications, complete enrolment and undergo biometric capture at designated centres across the country.
The NIS made the clarification on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, when a Senate delegation led by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, visited the Service Headquarters in Abuja on a fact-finding mission. The delegation was received by the Deputy Comptroller-General, Visa and Residency, DCG Franca Nwanneka, who represented the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, alongside members of the Service’s Top Management.
The visit followed concerns raised by Senator Sumaila’s constituents and other Nigerians over the migration of passport production from different passport offices to the centralised facility in Abuja.
During the engagement, the NIS explained that the centralised production system was part of ongoing reforms designed to improve passport administration, strengthen security and promote transparency and accountability.
The Service said the reform would also eliminate sharp practices along the passport processing chain, while improving efficiency in the production of the travel document.
It further explained that the migration was being carried out in phases across locations in Nigeria and abroad.
According to the NIS, “all passport centres remain operational,” with application submission, enrolment and biometric capture continuing at all designated centres.
The Service also used the engagement to explain the government’s rationale for centralising passport production and the security implications of the reform to the Senate delegation.
After receiving the explanations, Senator Sumaila expressed satisfaction with the clarification and commended the reform being championed by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Comptroller-General of Immigration.
He also assured the NIS of the support of the National Assembly towards the successful implementation of the initiative.
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