The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it can now produce up to 5,000 passports per day, following the launch of a Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre in Abuja.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the development on Thursday during an inspection of the facility at the NIS Headquarters.
According to him, the new centralised system marks the first time since the agency’s establishment in 1963 that passport production has been unified in one hub, ending 62 years of decentralised operations.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the old production machines could only deliver between 250 and 300 passports daily, often resulting in backlogs and long wait times for applicants.
“With this new facility, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation. This is a game changer for passport processing in Nigeria,” the minister said.
He added that the reform supports the ministry’s commitment to delivering passports within two weeks, with ongoing efforts to reduce processing time further to one week.
The minister noted that the centralised system is in line with global best practices, ensuring uniformity in passport production across the country, improved integrity of Nigerian travel documents internationally, automation and optimisation, which will cut delays and eliminate inefficiencies
“This project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
