Nigeria Immigration Service Announces Single Travel Emergency Passport for Nigerians Abroad
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has unveiled plans to introduce a new biometric travel document called the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) to help Nigerians abroad whose passports are expired, lost, or stolen return home safely.
The announcement was made by Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes held in Abuja, co-hosted with the Government of France. NIS Public Relations Officer, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday.
According to Nandap, the STEP will replace the current Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) as part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening identity management and border governance in line with global best practices.
“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,” she said. Nandap added that the document will be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad and will be valid for single entry only, highlighting the Service’s commitment to efficiency and identity protection.
The high-level meeting brought together key stakeholders in migration management, including the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, NAPTIP, ECOWAS, AU, EU, and representatives from various African and European countries. Discussions focused on combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking, emphasizing 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 broader reform agenda of NIS, including enhancing migration management systems, international cooperation, and capacity building.
“The Comptroller-General reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global migration dialogues, stressing that the Nigeria Immigration Service will continue aligning its policies and operations with international standards to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration across borders,” the statement added.
