The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has dismissed reports circulating online that the South East zone has been disqualified from passport issuance.
The Service said claims that passport processing equipment in the region had been dismantled and that issuance had stopped were false.
“The NIS categorically states that this report is entirely false and a gross misrepresentation of the ongoing government reforms to modernise passport administration,” the Service said in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer in Abuja, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, Akinsola Akinlabi.
The Service said, “The reality is that NIS has introduced a phased onboarding system to migrate passport offices including those in foreign missions to a centralized production framework.
“This modernization effort, which began in 2024, is designed to enhance the efficiency, integrity and the security of Nigeria’s passport production system and not exclude any citizen.”
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According to the statement, passport offices in the North East and North Central states of Borno, Yobe, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau have already been onboarded, alongside 35 international stations across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.
“Furthermore, scheduled migration for the five South East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo; and five additional international stations (Italy, Greece, Spain, Switzerland and Austria) is currently ongoing within the first quarter of 2026.
“Consequently, the service has established a strict work-plan calendar to ensure this transition is seamless and does not disrupt delivery timelines as the goal is to drive the process towards greater efficiency.
“The public is therefore advised to disregard speculative narratives capable of creating unnecessary tension, as the Service continues to implement reforms in the overall national interest. Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to equitable service delivery and operational excellence.”