NIS To Introduce Special Passport For Nigerians Stranded Abroad
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced plans to launch a new biometric travel document, the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP), to assist Nigerians abroad whose passports have expired, been lost, or been stolen, to return.
Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, disclosed this during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes, which Nigeria co-hosted with the Government of France in Abuja.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the Service Public Relations Officer, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, explained that the introduction of STEP is part of the NIS’s ongoing reforms to strengthen identity management and border governance frameworks in line with global best practices.
According to Nandap, the new document will replace the existing Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC), providing a more secure and verifiable alternative.
“The STEP will serve as a temporary travel document for Nigerians abroad whose passports are expired, lost, or stolen, enabling them to return home in a secure and verifiable manner,” the CGI said.
She added that the STEP would be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad and would be valid for a single entry into Nigeria, which highlights the Service’s commitment to efficient service delivery and robust identity protection.
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The migration forum brought together major stakeholders, including the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), NAPTIP, ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), and representatives of African and European countries.
The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking, with emphasis on prevention, protection, and prosecution across regional migration routes.
In her keynote address titled “Insights on Prevention and Protection as Strategic Pillars to Effective Law Enforcement and Prosecution Responses,” Nandap outlined the Service’s broader reform agenda aimed at improving migration management systems, international cooperation, and capacity building.
The CGI reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global migration dialogues, emphasising that the NIS would continue to align its policies and operations with international standards to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration across borders.
