Nigeria centralises passport production for the first time since 1963. New system boosts efficiency and supports Tinubu’s public service reform agenda

Nigeria centralises passport production for the first time in its 62-year history, marking a significant leap in service delivery and public sector reform.

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Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the move during an inspection of the new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

“This project is 100 per cent ready,” said the minister. “Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services.”

Since the establishment of the NIS in 1963, passport production had always operated from multiple decentralised locations.

This is the first time the nation will run a single, central passport production system, aligning with international best practices.

Previously, outdated machines could produce just 250 to 300 passports per day.

The new system boasts a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports daily, significantly cutting processing time.

“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within four to five hours of operation,” Dr Tunji-Ojo stated, calling the development a “game-changer” in Nigeria’s identity management space.

He also revealed that the ministry was already moving beyond its earlier two-week promise.

“We’re now pushing for one-week delivery. Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians.”

According to the minister, centralisation ensures uniformity in document quality and enhances the global integrity of Nigerian travel documents.

He described it as both a technological and institutional upgrade aimed at restoring public trust.

The move forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader public service reform agenda, which aims to improve efficiency, transparency, and citizen experience across government services.

Dr Tunji-Ojo concluded that this reform is not just about passports. “It’s about changing the narrative. It’s about improving how government serves the people.”

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With this major infrastructure and policy upgrade, Nigeria centralises passport production to meet growing demand while laying a strong foundation for smarter, faster, and more accountable public service delivery.