Nigeria has issued over 3.5 million passports since 2023 while saving ₦1 billion annually.
Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo credited digital reforms and e-passport rollout for improved service delivery.
The Federal Government has issued more than 3.5 million passports within the last two years while saving over ₦1 billion annually by automating key passport services, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced on Tuesday.
Speaking during the commissioning of a new passport front office in Abuja, the minister highlighted the progress made under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in enhancing security, service delivery, and operational transparency within the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
According to Tunji-Ojo, a significant source of the savings stems from the automation of breeder document uploads, including birth and marriage certificate services that previously cost the government ₦1 billion annually in contractor fees.
“We no longer pay contractors for services that Nigerians can now perform themselves. The money remains within the government,” he said.
Between August 2023 and July 2025, the ministry issued 3,080,141 passports domestically and 466,117 in the diaspora, thereby eliminating a backlog of over 200,000 applications and settling debts of nearly ₦20 billion inherited from the previous administration.
Tunji-Ojo declared an end to passport scarcity, stating, “Never again will Nigerians queue endlessly or be denied access to identification.” He further emphasized the government’s shift to enhanced e-passports, now available at 44 centers nationwide and 47 abroad, up from 26 and five, respectively.
All Nigerian passports, he added, are now ICAO-compliant and globally verifiable, a significant move to restore the international credibility of Nigeria’s travel documents.
“We inherited a system with inconsistent passport types. Today, we’ve harmonized the process and adopted global best practices,” he said.
The newly launched passport front office is designed to facilitate access for public servants while enhancing data integrity and identity verification through digital processes. Remarkably, until 2023, the Interior Ministry lacked a dedicated passport office for its operations.
The minister also revealed that a central personalization center, equipped with cutting-edge technology provided by Iris Smart Technologies, would be operational by August 2025. The equipment, including biometric tools and workstations, was donated at no cost to the government, reflecting a public-private partnership model for innovation.
In a policy shift, Tunji-Ojo announced that manual processing for SEPAC and TWP applications would be completely phased out by July 31, 2025. After this date, online-only submissions will be accepted.
“Manual processing will be prohibited. We must collect biometric data and information from all applicants for national security purposes. This government must know what it’s selling and to whom,” he stated.
Reiterating the administration’s commitment to transparency, innovation, and digital transformation, the minister commended both internal staff and private partners for their role in driving reforms. He urged continued support from ministry directors and technical teams to build public trust in government services.
Tunji-Ojo concluded by affirming that these reforms represent more than operational changes. They reflect a deliberate strategy to modernize national identity management, boost confidence in governance, and enhance public service delivery to make it more efficient and citizen-friendly.
