Immigration Debunks Claims Of South East Exclusion In Passport Issuance

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has refuted an online report alleging that the South East region of the country had been barred from passport issuance, describing the claim as false, misleading and capable of causing unnecessary public anxiety.

The service clarified that ongoing changes in passport processing were part of a nationwide reform aimed at improving efficiency, security and service delivery for all Nigerians.

In a statement issued yesterday by its national spokesperson, deputy comptroller A.S. Akinlabi, the service said the report was a gross misrepresentation of the ongoing reforms being implemented by the federal government to modernise Nigeria’s passport administration system.

“The reality is that NIS has introduced a phased onboarding system to migrate passport offices including those in foreign missions to a centralised production framework. This modernisation 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 said.

According to the statement, no region or group of Nigerians has been excluded from passport issuance, stressing that the current developments were part of a phased onboarding process aimed at migrating passport offices both within the country and at foreign missions to a centralised passport production framework.

The service further explained that the modernisation programme, which commenced in 2024, was designed to enhance efficiency, strengthen the integrity of passport processing and improve the overall security of Nigeria’s passport production system.

As part of the ongoing reforms, the NIS disclosed that passport offices in the North East and North Central states of Borno, Yobe, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau had already been successfully onboarded. In addition, 35 international passport issuing stations across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America have been integrated into the centralised system.

The statement further revealed that the scheduled migration of passport offices in the five South East states, comprising of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states as well as five additional international stations in Italy, Greece, Spain, Switzerland and Austria, is currently underway and expected to be concluded within the first quarter of 2026.

It said “, To ensure a smooth transition, we have  put in place a strict work-plan calendar designed to prevent disruptions to service delivery while driving the process towards greater efficiency.”

The service therefore urged members of the public to disregard speculative and unfounded narratives capable of creating unnecessary tension, assuring Nigerians of its commitment to equitable service delivery and operational excellence.

This is as they reaffirmed that the Nigeria Immigration Service remains fully committed to reforms that serve the national interest and ensure that all citizens have equal access to passport services.

“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 public is therefore advised to disregard speculative narratives capable of creating unnecessary tension, as we continue to implement reforms in the overall national interest. Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to equitable service delivery and operational excellence. The statement  concluded.