After more than six decades of decentralised passport production, Nigeria has finally established a single central hub to oversee the process nationwide.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Thursday unveiled the Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja.
He described the milestone as the first of its kind in the country’s history since the creation of the NIS in 1963.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” he said.
The minister explained that the outdated production machines had a maximum capacity of only 300 passports daily, compared to the new facility that can generate between 4,500 and 5,000 daily.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” Tunji-Ojo added.
He further disclosed that the government’s target of issuing passports within two weeks was now being reduced to just one week, thanks to automation and system optimisation.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” he emphasised.
Highlighting the broader impact, the minister said centralisation would ensure uniformity, reduce fraud, and improve the global standing of Nigeria’s travel documents.
He reaffirmed that the reform aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to modernise service delivery and restore efficiency within the public sector.