Reactions have trailed the launch of the new Centralised Passport Personalisation and Production Centre at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja, with international students describing the development as both a relief and a concern.
The centre, announced on Thursday by the Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of the Ministry of Interior, is designed to end delays and backlogs in Nigeria’s passport issuance system.
It consolidates all passport personalisation activities into a single hub at the NIS headquarters, replacing the previous decentralised structure spread across 96 locations in Nigeria and abroad.
For many students studying overseas, the prospect of faster passport processing is welcome news. Speaking to The News Chronicle, one respondent said:
“Just a month ago, the authorities announced the increase of passport fees to ₦100,000 for the 5-year one, and I was a bit taken aback by it because I was yet to get my passport. But this development has given me a little comfort knowing I can apply and get my passport within a week. That is precious time and energy saved. So it’s worth the price hike.”
However, not all students share the same enthusiasm. Another international student raised concerns about the impact on those living outside Abuja:
“I’m a bit bothered because it’s going to be stressful for those who live far from Abuja. Imagine travelling all the way from the East just to get your passport and then wait in the city for one week. If you don’t have someone there, that’s going to be highly demanding financially. You’ll literally spend more than you paid to get the passport. This decision wasn’t thought through and through.”
A third respondent, identified as Faith, expressed indifference:
“I don’t really care for this development. I wish the cost of the passport fees itself dropped.”
The new centre, developed in partnership with IRISMAT Technologies Limited, is equipped with advanced machines capable of producing up to 1,000 passports per hour; a sharp increase from the older Iskra machines that produced 250 to 300 per day.
The NIS now has the capacity to produce between 4,500 and 5,000 passports daily, with approved passports ready for collection within 24 hours to one week.
Tunji-Ojo said the project marks a major reform supported by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria, and will permanently eliminate the backlog of passport applications. He noted that over 204,000 pending applications had been cleared.
The minister also mentioned related reforms, including the migration to a single passport series to replace the old “A and B” series, deployment of the enhanced B-series passport at Nigerian embassies and missions abroad, and full integration into the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Public Key Directory to strengthen global authentication of Nigerian passports.
“These reforms ensure that no two Nigerians carry different passport types. They enhance international trust in our documents and position Nigeria as a serious player in global travel systems,” he said.
While the centre has been described by Tunji-Ojo as a “landmark achievement,” the students’ responses suggest a divide.
