The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced the introduction of a Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) — a new biometric travel document designed to assist Nigerians abroad whose passports are expired, lost, or stolen, enabling them to return home securely and verifiably.
The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, disclosed this 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 contained in a statement issued by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, on Wednesday.
According to Nandap, the STEP will replace the existing Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) as part of ongoing reforms “aimed at strengthening Identity Management and Border Governance frameworks in line with global best practices.”
The Immigration chief further explained that “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 also noted that “the travel document will be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad and valid only for single entry, reinforcing the Service’s commitment to efficient service delivery and robust identity protection.”
The meeting drew participation from major stakeholders in migration management, including the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, NAPTIP, ECOWAS, AU, EU, and representatives of African and European countries.
Deliberations at the high-level forum focused on improving cooperation to tackle migrant smuggling and human trafficking, with emphasis on prevention, protection, and prosecution across regional migration routes.
Delivering her keynote address titled “Insights on Prevention and Protection as Strategic Pillars to Effective Law Enforcement and Prosecution Responses,” Nandap outlined the Service’s reform agenda aimed at enhancing migration systems, strengthening international partnerships, and improving institutional capacity.
The statement concluded that “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.”
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