The Federal Government has announced that over 3.5 million passports have been issued in less than two years, while annual savings of more than ₦1 billion have been recorded through sweeping reforms in the passport processing system.
Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known on Tuesday during the commissioning of the Ministry’s new Passport Front Office in Abuja. He said the reforms align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving efficiency, security, and service delivery.
According to the minister, the administration inherited over 200,000 unprocessed passport applications and a ₦20 billion debt in 2023, all of which have now been cleared.
“A total of 3,546,258 passports have been issued—3,080,141 locally and 466,117 in the diaspora—since August 2023,” he stated.
Tunji-Ojo highlighted that the digitisation of breeder document uploads, such as birth and marriage certificates, eliminated the need for third-party contractors and now saves the government about ₦1 billion annually.
The minister also revealed that the number of centres issuing enhanced e-passports had risen from 26 to 44 in Nigeria, and from five to 47 in the diaspora. All passport offices now issue harmonised, ICAO-compliant passports.
He added that by August 2025, a new central personalisation centre—equipped with modern technology at no cost to government by Iris Smart Technologies—will become operational.
Furthermore, from July 31, all applications for Special Expatriate Permits and Temporary Work Permits must be submitted online as part of efforts to enhance national security and digital governance.
“These reforms underscore our commitment to transparency, efficiency, and global standards in passport administration,” Tunji-Ojo affirmed.
