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By Ahmed Yusuf
The Nigeria Immigration Service has boosted its daily passport production capacity from about 300 to 5,000, following the launch of a new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre in Abuja.
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who disclosed this on Thursday during an inspection of the facility at the NIS Headquarters, described the move as a major milestone in Nigeria’s 62-year history of passport issuance.
According to him, the old decentralised system relied on outdated machines that could only produce between 250 and 300 passports daily. The new centralised system, however, now enables NIS to process 4,500 to 5,000 passports each day within just four to five hours of operation.
“This is a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria. We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week. Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that for the first time since NIS was established in 1963, Nigeria now operates a centralised passport production system, in line with global standards. The minister said the reform would improve uniformity, efficiency, and the integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo added that the centralisation initiative was part of President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda to strengthen service delivery and restore public confidence in government institutions.
“This development is about driving efficiency and building a passport system Nigerians can be proud of,” he said.
