Don’t Politicise Passport Reform, Northern Students Warn

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Northern Caucus, has urged Nigerians, particularly those in the North, not to politicise the ongoing passport reform by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The Students insisted that the exercise is a nationwide modernisation programme and not an attempt to sideline any region.

The national vice president (external affairs) of NANS, Comrade Sadiq SK Zango, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, dismissed claims that the Passport Centralisation Programme was designed to disadvantage northern states.

He said such allegations are false, misleading and politically motivated, noting that the student body deemed it necessary to clarify misconceptions following what he described as deliberate falsehood, propaganda and misinformation being circulated about the reform.

“We have considered it imperative to sensitise our comrades, brothers and sisters, and the entire population of northern Nigeria on the deliberate falsehood, propaganda and misinformation being peddled by some mischievous elements regarding the ongoing implementation of the Passport Centralisation Programme in the Nigeria Immigration Service,” he said.

According to him, the migration of passport production to the Central Personalisation Centre in Abuja does not stop passport processing or issuance at passport offices across the country or at Nigeria’s embassies and consulates abroad.

“The migration is purely operational and does not in any way halt passport processing and issuance at any passport office within Nigeria or at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad. Rather, it is part of a broader modernisation programme aimed at strengthening the security, integrity and efficiency of Nigeria’s passport issuance system,” he added.

The NANS leader said the centralised system would ensure faster passport production, improve efficiency and strengthen document security.

“From our independent findings, all passport booklet printing and security personalisation have now been consolidated into a secure, centralised and high-capacity production hub in Abuja.

“This will ensure passports are produced within a two-week timeframe without unnecessary delays. The reform is designed to eliminate manual interventions, remove document arbitrage, enhance accountability and guarantee uniform quality standards with advanced security features embedded in every Nigerian passport,” he said.

Zango urged northerners to ignore rumours surrounding the reform, assuring them that the changes would ultimately produce a more secure and internationally respected Nigerian passport.