By Our Reporter
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it will now deliver passports to Nigerians within one week, after centralising production for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the development on Thursday during an inspection of the new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS headquarters in Abuja.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” he said.
He explained that while old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, the new centralised system has the capacity to process 4,500 to 5,000 passports each day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” Tunji-Ojo said, describing the system as a game-changer for 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,” he added.
The minister noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity, enhance efficiency, and boost the integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide. He said the system also aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, which aims to improve service delivery across sectors.
The announcement triggered widespread reactions on X (formerly Twitter), with many Nigerians welcoming the news, while others raised deeper questions about why demand for passports remains so high.
“No more sleeping at the passport office just to apply and get a passport. I waited six months plus to get mine from another state, not even Abuja. This is a sweet experience,” wrote @tanimolaomotayo.
Another user, @moore_ojo, said: “This is a commendable step forward by the NIS and the Ministry of Interior. Centralising production and scaling up to 5,000 daily is not just about efficiency, but about restoring trust in public service.”
Others, however, viewed it differently. “The most successful ministry in Nigeria is the one processing passports to send young people, their talents, energy, hopes, and aspirations to the country’s former colonists. This is the failure of an entire generation. To add this to a very short list of achievements says a lot,” posted @GoodiesOfada.
For @flourish007, the reform was welcome, but the bigger issue remains unresolved: “The minister is performing exceptionally well, but why is there such a high demand for passports among Nigerians? Let’s ask our government.”
Some credited the minister personally. “Kudos! This goes beyond Mr President, it speaks more about the personality of Olubunmi Ojo. Other ministers whose ministries are so important to the development of the country should also change the game in their respective ministries,” said @Adefikola Ganiyu.
Analysts say the move represents a significant leap in Nigeria’s service delivery capacity, but it also underlines a paradox: while the government celebrates efficiency in passport processing, questions linger over why so many citizens feel compelled to seek opportunities abroad.
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