Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has dismissed reports regarding passport issuance saying that it was entirely false and a gross misrepresentation of the ongoing government reforms to modernize passport administration.
This clarification was made today in a press release signed by the Service Public Relations Officer of the NIS, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi.
The statement read in parts: “The attention of Nigeria Immigration Service has been drawn to a baseless online report claiming that a specific region of the country has been disqualified from passport issuance.
“NIS categorically states that this report is entirely false and a gross misrepresentation of the ongoing government reforms to modernize passport administration.”
The NIS said it had introduced a phased onboarding system to migrate Passport Offices including those in foreign missions to a centralized production framework noting that this modernization effort, which began in 2024, was designed to enhance the efficiency, integrity and the security of Nigeria’s passport production system and not exclude any citizen.
“The reality is that NIS said has introduced a phased onboarding system to migrate passport offices including those in foreign missions to a centralized production framework. This modernization effort, which began in 2024, is designed to enhance the efficiency, integrity and the security of Nigeria’s passport production system and not exclude any citizen,” the statement disclosed.
The Service said it has successfully onboarded passport offices in the North East and North Central States of Borno, Yobe, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau, along with 35 international stations spread across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.
It explained, “Furthermore, scheduled migration for the five South East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo; and five additional international stations (Italy, Greece, Spain, Switzerland and Austria) is currently ongoing within the first quarter of 2026.
“Consequently, the service has established a strict work-plan calendar to ensure this transition is seamless and does not disrupt delivery timelines as the goal is to drive the process towards greater efficiency.”
The Immigration Service, therefore, advised the public to disregard speculative narratives capable of creating unnecessary tension, as the Service continues to implement reforms in the overall national interest.
“Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to equitable service delivery and operational excellence,” it added.
By Palma Ileye, Abuja
