The Federal Government has completed a world-class Data Personalization Centre at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Headquarters in Abuja, a development described by Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as a “game-changer” in Nigeria’s passport production system.
After inspecting the centre, the Minister said it would drastically reduce response times, allowing passports to be printed within 24 hours and delivered within a week. This marks the first time since the NIS was established in 1963 that Nigeria will operate a centralized passport personalization facility comparable to those in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, India, and Bangladesh.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the new system replaces the previous model of 96 passport personalization centres across Nigeria and abroad, which he described as “vulnerable and inefficient.” “Centralization is global best practice because it ensures higher quality, better control, and greater efficiency. We promised Nigerians that we would centralize passport personalization and production, and I am pleased to announce that this project is now 100 percent ready,” he said.
The Minister added that the new facility can now produce about 1,000 passports per hour, compared with 250 – 300 per machine previously, enabling the NIS to between 4,500 and 5,000 passports within a normal workday.
Highlighting other reforms, Tunji-Ojo announced the unification of Nigeria’s two passport series into a single regime with support from technical partner Iris Smart Technologies. He also noted that Nigeria has fully migrated to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Public Key Directory, strengthening the integrity and global credibility of Nigerian passports.
