FG Unveils World-Class Centre to End Passport Backlogs
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Thursday, led an inspection of the Nigeria Immigration Service’s newly completed Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre in Abuja, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, and the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nanna Nanndap.
The facility, a landmark in Nigeria’s ongoing passport reform initiative, represents the first of its kind in the 62-year history of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Speaking during the visit, the Minister described the centre as a “big win for this administration and for Nigerians,” noting that it aligns Nigeria with leading nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, India and Bangladesh, in adopting a centralised passport personalisation system — a global best practice that guarantees quality, integrity, and efficiency.
He explained that the centre’s state-of-the-art infrastructure will revolutionise passport production, boosting capacity from 250–300 booklets per machine daily to over 4,500-5000 passports per day with approved passports ready for collection within 24 hours.
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“The era of backlogs and manual personalisation is over. Nigerians can now expect faster, more reliable service as we strengthen the integrity of our travel documents,” the Minister stated.
Highlighting key milestones of the reform programme, the Minister listed:
Migration to a single, uniform passport series, eliminating discrepancies between older versions.
Nigeria’s full integration into the ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD), ensuring global authentication of Nigerian passports.
Successful deployment of the new system across all passport issuing locations, including Nigerian missions abroad.
He credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his unwavering support, as well as the dedication of Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, the CG Immigration Service Kemi N Nandap, officers of the Ministry, and the personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The Minister also commended IRIS Smart Technologies Ltd., the government’s technical partner, for enabling the project through a strategic partnership that required no direct draw from public coffers.
“This project underscores our resolve to build enduring institutions rather than systems dependent on individuals,” the Minister concluded”.
The inspection reinforces the Federal Government’s pledge to modernise Nigeria’s passport ecosystem, deliver efficient services to citizens, and elevate the global reputation of Nigerian travel documents.
Ibraheem Zakariyya,
Head, Press & Public Relations.
September 18, 2025
