NIS Dismisses Claim Of Regional Exclusion In Passport Issuance …Absolves Interior Minister Of False And Misleading Narrative
By Bukar BOLORI
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has debunked reports circulating online alleging that a particular region of the country has been barred from obtaining Nigerian passports, describing the claim as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Service said the reports wrongly interpreted ongoing reforms aimed at modernising the country’s passport administration system to accuse the Minister of Interior, Dr Bunmi Tunji-Ojo of attempt to disqualify the South East from printing International Passport.
According to NIS, no region or group of Nigerians has been excluded from passport issuance.
The Service explained that it is currently implementing a phased onboarding process to migrate passport offices—both within Nigeria and at foreign missions—to a centralised passport production framework.
The statement said the initiative, which commenced in 2024, is intended to improve efficiency, enhance security, and strengthen the integrity of the passport production process.
It added that as part of the reforms, passport offices in several North-East and North-Central states—including Borno, Yobe, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau—have already been successfully integrated into the new system.
In addition, 35 international passport stations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America have been onboarded.
The Service further disclosed that the migration of passport offices in the five South-East states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—alongside five additional foreign missions in Italy, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, and Austria, is currently underway and scheduled for completion within the first quarter of 2026.
To ensure a smooth transition, NIS said it has put in place a structured work-plan calendar designed to prevent disruptions and maintain service delivery timelines throughout the migration period.
The Service urged members of the public to disregard speculative reports capable of creating unnecessary tension, reiterating its commitment to equitable service delivery, national interest, and operational excellence.
