The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially ended the decentralised production of passports that has been in place since the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was established in 1963. For the first time in 62 years, passport personalisation and printing will now be managed exclusively through a single, centralised facility. This change represents a major shift in how Nigeria handles passport issuance.
What Changed
During an inspection of the newly completed Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, confirmed that this facility is fully operational and ready to take over the personalisation of all passports. Previously, this process was carried out at approximately 96 centres scattered across Nigeria and abroad. The new system consolidates these operations into one modern, world-class centre.
Gains in Efficiency
Centralising passport production offers significant improvements in speed and capacity. While the older decentralised centres produced between 250 to 300 passports per day, the new facility can produce approximately 4,500 to 5,000 passports daily under normal conditions. The government is targeting a passport delivery timeframe of one week from approval to issuance, and in some cases, passports can be printed within 24 hours thanks to the enhanced efficiency of the new system.
Purpose & Rationale
The shift to a centralised personalisation centre is part of a broader reform aimed at improving service delivery in line with global best practices. The decentralised system was described as vulnerable and inefficient, while the centralised system improves document integrity, uniformity, and the overall credibility of Nigerian passports. This reform also aims to clear existing backlogs — at one point, over 200,000 passport applications were pending production. The new centre is designed to manage demand more effectively and prevent such backlogs from recurring.
Implications
Nigerians applying for passports can expect faster turnaround times, less bureaucracy, and more predictable service delivery. Centralisation reduces duplication of effort, lowers maintenance and logistical costs, and strengthens quality control and security measures to combat forgery and errors. By reducing delays and clearing backlogs, the government hopes to restore public confidence in the immigration and passport issuance system.
Challenges & Considerations
Despite the advantages, some challenges remain. Applicants located far from Abuja or immigration offices might face difficulties in collecting their passports, and the system’s success depends on how well delivery and distribution outside the capital are managed. Centralising production also concentrates risk — the facility must be resilient against technical issues, power outages, and equipment failures. Handling all passport personalisation in one centre requires adequate staffing, logistical support, and maintenance to avoid bottlenecks. Additionally, the transition from decentralised centres to a single facility may lead to temporary delays or confusion.
The decision to end decentralised passport production after 62 years marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s immigration administration. If properly implemented, this reform could drastically improve passport issuance speed, enhance document security, and streamline service delivery. It reflects the Federal Government’s ongoing commitment to modernising and improving public services.
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