NIS to introduce emergency passport for stranded Nigerians abroad

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has unveiled plans to introduce a Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) — a new biometric travel document designed to assist Nigerians abroad whose passports have expired, been lost, or stolen, allowing them to return home securely and verifiably.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, announced the initiative during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes held in Abuja, co-hosted by Nigeria and the Government of France.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Service Public Relations Officer, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi.

According to Nandap, the new document will replace the existing Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) as part of the NIS’s ongoing reforms to strengthen 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,” the CGI explained.

She added that the STEP would be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad, valid for single entry only, reinforcing the Service’s commitment to efficient service delivery and robust identity protection.

The meeting brought together key players in migration management, including the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), NAPTIP, ECOWAS, African Union (AU), European Union (EU), and representatives from various African and European nations.

Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation to tackle migrant smuggling and human trafficking, with emphasis on 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 highlighted the NIS’s broader reform efforts toward improved migration management systems, capacity development, and international collaboration.

“The Comptroller-General reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global migration dialogues, emphasising that the Nigeria Immigration Service will continue to align its policies and operations with international standards to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration across borders,” the statement concluded.