The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has dismissed claims circulating online that certain regions of the country have been disqualified from obtaining passports, describing the reports as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the agency’s Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, clarified that the reports stem from misinterpretation of ongoing reforms aimed at modernising Nigeria’s passport production system.
“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.”
He explained that the modernisation initiative, launched in 2024, is part of a phased migration process designed to improve efficiency, integrity, and security in passport administration, rather than restrict access for any group or region.
“This phased onboarding is aimed at ensuring that all passport services are delivered seamlessly and securely to citizens, regardless of their location,” Akinlabi added.
According to the NIS, passport offices in the North-East and North-Central states—Borno, Yobe, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau—have already been migrated to the centralised system, alongside 35 international passport stations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.
The current phase of the migration targets South-East states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—as well as five international stations in Italy, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, and Austria.
Akinlabi said the process, scheduled for completion within the first quarter of 2026, is guided by a strict implementation calendar to prevent disruption of passport issuance timelines.
He urged Nigerians to disregard “speculative narratives capable of creating unnecessary tension,” reaffirming the Service’s commitment to equitable and efficient service delivery.
“Our goal remains to implement these reforms in the national interest and provide efficient, secure passport services for all citizens,” he said.
