Nigerians to Receive Passports Within 7 Days, Says Interior Minister
The Federal Government has announced that Nigerian passports will now be issued within seven days, as part of ongoing reforms to improve service delivery and restore public confidence in government institutions.
Speaking at the Mid-Tenure/2025 Sectoral Performance Retreat yesterday, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said that reforms within the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) are already addressing long-standing delays in passport processing.
“Our target is clear: Nigerians should be able to apply and receive their passports within one week. That is the global standard, and that is what we are working to achieve,” Tunji-Ojo said.
According to the minister, the reforms include full digitalization of passport applications, harmonization of data with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and a new monitoring framework to track service delivery.
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He added that the Interior Ministry is also focused on strengthening border security, improving fire service response times, modernizing correctional facilities, and regulating private security companies to meet international standards.
Also speaking at the retreat, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, emphasized that accountability will be strictly enforced under the new performance framework.
“The era of business as usual is over. Ministers and agencies must work with timelines and deliverables. Nigerians deserve results, not excuses,” she said.
She added that ministers and heads of agencies will now be held responsible for meeting their targets, with new tools in place to track progress, budgets, and timelines.
Bala Usman also highlighted plans to professionalize the private security sector and reduce the use of police officers for VIP protection, calling the current approach unsustainable.
By PRNigeria
