The Nigeria Immigration Service has dismissed online reports alleging that a region of the country has been disqualified from obtaining passports, describing the claims as “entirely false” and “a gross misrepresentation” of ongoing reforms.
In a statement released on Saturday, signed by Service Public Relations Officer DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, the Service explained that the reported disruptions are part of a phased government-led effort to modernise passport administration across Nigeria, not a discriminatory action against any citizen or region.
“The attention of the NIS has been drawn to baseless online claims suggesting that certain regions have been excluded from passport issuance,” Akinlabi said.
“These reports misrepresent ongoing government reforms to migrate passport offices, including those in foreign missions, to a centralised production framework.”
According to the Service, the modernisation effort, which began in 2024, is designed to strengthen the efficiency, integrity, and security of Nigeria’s passport production system, rather than restrict access.
“This phased onboarding is aimed at ensuring that all passport services are delivered seamlessly and securely to citizens, regardless of their location,” Akinlabi added.
The NIS said “Passport offices in the North East and North Central states—Borno, Yobe, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau—have already been successfully migrated to the centralised system.
“In addition, 35 international passport stations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America have completed the transition.”
The current phase focuses on the “South East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo, alongside five international stations in Italy, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, and Austria.”
Akinlabi said the migration is ongoing within the first quarter of 2026 and is guided by a strict work-plan calendar to ensure the process does not disrupt passport issuance timelines.
He urged Nigerians to disregard “speculative narratives capable of creating unnecessary tension” and reaffirmed the NIS’s commitment to equitable service delivery and operational excellence.
“Our goal remains to implement these reforms in the national interest and provide efficient, secure passport services for all citizens,” he said.
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