The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced plans to introduce a new Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) to assist Nigerians stranded abroad or in urgent need of temporary travel documents.
According to The Guardian Nigeria (Nov. 5, 2025), the initiative will replace the existing multiple-page emergency passport with a secure, single-use document designed to help citizens return to Nigeria quickly and safely. The NIS said the move aligns with international best practices and strengthens the country’s border and identity management systems.
The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, disclosed during a press briefing in Abuja that the STEP will be available at Nigerian embassies and high commissions globally. She emphasized that “the new passport will be valid strictly for one-way travel to Nigeria and embedded with biometric data to prevent duplication or misuse.”
Channels Television reported that the new emergency passport is expected to shorten the waiting period for issuance from several weeks to just a few days, improving the response for Nigerians who lose their passports or face emergency travel situations abroad.
In a statement cited by Vanguard News, Nandap added that the system would integrate with a centralized national database, allowing the NIS to track and authenticate every document issued. She noted that the reform would also reduce cases of impersonation and identity fraud.
Members of the Nigerian diaspora have largely welcomed the new initiative, describing it as a “practical and timely innovation.” However, some observers have urged the NIS to ensure transparency and prevent the process from being exploited at foreign missions.
Sources
The Guardian Nigeria — “NIS to Launch Single Travel Emergency Passport for Nigerians Abroad,” Nov. 5, 2025
Channels Television — “Immigration Service Unveils New Emergency Passport for Nigerians,” Nov. 5, 2025
Vanguard News — “New NIS Emergency Passport to Curb Identity Theft — Nandap,” Nov. 5, 2025
NIS Official Statement — Press briefing by the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Abuja Headquarters, Nov. 2025
