Nigeria may soon get passports in a week. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched a fully centralised passport production system designed to speed up processing, reduce errors, and improve security. 

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the upgrade after inspecting the new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre in Abuja.

What has changed

Until now, passport production was spread across different locations, which often led to delays, equipment downtime, and inconsistent standards. With the new model, all personalisation and printing happen in Abuja, then finished booklets are shipped to state offices and passport desks for collection. 

This single control point is meant to cut bottlenecks and make timelines more predictable nationwide.

Why this matters

• Faster delivery: NIS is moving from a two-week promise to a 7-day target from biometric capture to collection, once the system is fully embedded.
• Bigger capacity: Daily output is jumping from roughly 250–300 passports to about 4,500–5,000. That’s a massive expansion aimed at clearing backlogs and meeting new demand.
• Better security: Central control helps apply the same checks and quality controls on every booklet, which should strengthen the integrity of Nigerian travel documents and support international acceptance.

How the centralised system will work

1. Apply and capture: Applicants complete the online application and attend capture at an approved centre.
2. Central production: Data flows to the Abuja hub, where passports are personalised and printed under one roof.
3. Dispatch to states: Finished passports are sent to state commands and collection centres.
4. Pick-up: Applicants collect at their chosen centre after notification.

The minister said the facility is operational and built to meet nation-wide demand within a few hours of daily production, meaning most of the day’s applications can be processed the same day at the hub.

What applicants should expect

• Clearer timelines: As the system stabilises, applicants should begin to see one-week delivery windows, barring issues like incomplete documentation or security flags.
• Uniform standards: Requirements, data capture quality, and printing standards should now be consistent across the country.
• Less queuing: Higher throughput should reduce long lines at busy centres, especially in major cities.

Tips to avoid delays

• Fill forms correctly and use your official names as they appear on your NIN and other records.
• Upload clean, readable documents and bring originals to capture.
• Choose a realistic collection centre you can access easily.
• Respond quickly if NIS requests clarifications.

What about backlogs?

The capacity boost is designed to clear outstanding cases faster. Applicants already in the pipeline should benefit as production scales. If you have waited longer than usual, watch for SMS or email updates from NIS and keep your receipt handy.

Security and global standards

A single production line makes it easier to apply uniform security features, track each booklet, and maintain audit trails. This helps reduce errors, fight fraud, and improve the overall reputation of the Nigerian passport when used at foreign borders.

When does the 7-day target start?

The centre has been commissioned and is running. The one-week goal will be applied as the system fully integrates with all capture locations and logistics routes. Some centres may transition at different speeds, but the direction is clear: faster, centralised, and more reliable service.