The Federal Government has announced fresh reforms aimed at transforming passport issuance in Nigeria, promising delivery within one week of enrolment.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja during the ministry’s mid-tenure performance retreat, stressing that the new system will end long delays and eliminate racketeering.
“Our target is very clear: within one week of enrolment, every Nigerian should have their passport in hand. Not just delivering quickly, but delivering quality passports that reflect our integrity as a nation,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He recalled that under the old system, applicants sometimes waited six to seven months or paid as much as ₦200,000 to fast-track processing. He said the ministry had already cleared a backlog of applications within weeks of taking office, describing the past system as “inefficient and exploitative.”
The minister cited his own experience, noting that even when he was a lawmaker, he had to pay hundreds of thousands of naira to secure a passport for his 12-year-old daughter. “That era is over,” he said.
According to him, the reforms are anchored on a centralised personalisation centre— the largest in Africa— which allows for faster processing and tighter security.
“With this facility, we can print five times more passports than we currently need. Once you enrol, it doesn’t take us more than 24 hours to vet. Printing capacity is no longer our problem,” he explained.
As part of the overhaul, Passport Control Officers (PCOs) will no longer have the power to approve or delay applications, a move designed to curb corruption.
“Some PCOs had so much power that they could decide not to approve or not to print a passport until they were settled. That abuse of power ends now,” the minister said, adding that approvals will now be centralised to reduce human contact and opportunities for extortion.
Tunji-Ojo also underscored the importance of safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s passport, citing past cases where foreigners illegally obtained the document.
“In one incident, a Ugandan woman carrying a Nigerian passport was arrested at Lagos Airport after paying $1,000 to procure it. That cannot continue. Our passport must remain a true symbol of Nigerian identity,” he said.
The minister assured Nigerians that the reforms will not only deliver passports faster but also restore confidence in the integrity of the country’s travel documents.