Nigeria has launched a centralised passport personalisation system that officials say will eliminate backlogs, reduce delays, and bring the country closer to one-week passport delivery timelines.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo inaugurated the new facility at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, calling it a “game-changing reform” for citizens at home and abroad.
“For the first time in 62 years, Nigeria is running a single passport production hub,” Tunji-Ojo said. “This ends the era of inefficiency and ensures Nigerians get value for their money.”
The new system, built in partnership with IRISMAT Technologies, is capable of producing up to 1,000 passports per hour and 5,000 per day, compared with just 250–300 at each of the previous centres. Officials say it will clear the backlog of more than 200,000 applications inherited by the current administration.
The reform also aligns Nigeria with global standards for document security, ensuring uniformity across travel booklets. Authorities say the move will strengthen the integrity of Nigerian passports, which have often been plagued by forgery concerns.
But the efficiency drive comes at a higher cost to citizens. As of September 1, the price of a 32-page passport valid for five years has doubled to ₦100,000, while a 64-page passport with 10-year validity now costs ₦200,000.
Officials argue the higher fees reflect both the improved technology and the need for sustainable operations. Critics, however, say the cost will further burden ordinary Nigerians already struggling with inflation.
