The Federal Government announced a major update to travel documents for citizens outside the country. A new Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) will soon take the place of the existing Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC).
Kemi Nanna Nandap, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), revealed this change. She made the announcement during a Joint Thematic Meeting. Nigeria co-hosted this meeting in partnership with the Government of France.
Security Upgrade for Identity Management
The Service’s spokesman confirmed the details in a statement released Wednesday. The head of Immigration explained the goal of the reform. Crucially, the forthcoming STEP passport strengthens border governance and enhances identity management. This change brings the Service’s operations in line with current international migration standards.
The STEP document will function as a temporary solution for travel. It is intended for Nigerians abroad whose passports have been lost, stolen, or have expired.
- Function: It provides a secure and verifiable form of identification.
- Validity: The STEP passport will be valid for a single-entry trip only.
- Issuance: Designated Nigerian embassies and consulates in foreign countries will issue it.
Therefore, this reform solidifies the NIS’s commitment to efficient service delivery and robust identity protection.
Wider Reforms and Diplomatic Focus
Many stakeholders attended the meeting where the announcement was made. These included representatives from ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), and European countries. Nigerian agencies present were the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The gathering focused on stopping migrant smuggling and protecting vulnerable migrants.
In addition, the NIS has recently launched several modernization initiatives:
- Digital Platform: The Service rolled out an online system for the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC). This allows expatriates to apply digitally for legal residence and work authorization.
- Passport Production: A centralized passport personalization system was introduced in September 2025. This system dramatically increased daily production capacity. It now enables the issuance of up to 5,000 passports daily.
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