Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that Nigerians can now obtain their passports within 24 hours.
Fielding questions from newsmen in Abuja after inspecting the data personalisation centre at the Immigration headquarters, the minister explained that the newly installed machine can produce about 1,000 passports per hour, enabling the service to print between 4,500 and 5,000 daily.
“The system we now have is a game-changer. The old machines produced only 250 to 300 passports per machine daily. The new system produces about 1,000 per hour, giving us a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports per day.
“This means that the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) can now meet demand within a standard four to five-hour workday. Applicants whose requests are approved can now expect their passports to be printed within 24 hours.
“This reform enhances service delivery, efficiency, and accountability. Importantly, we have also unified the passport system. When we came in, there were two series — A and B.
“Today, with the support of our technical partner, IRISMAT, we now have a single passport regime. This eliminates duplication, ensures uniformity, and strengthens the integrity of our travel documents”, he said.
