NIS To Introduce Single-Use Emergency Passport For Nigerians Abroad

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced plans to introduce a new travel document called the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP).

The new passport will replace the current Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) for Nigerians stranded abroad.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, made the announcement during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes, co-hosted by Nigeria and France.

She explained that the new STEP document is part of the NIS’s ongoing efforts to modernize identity management and strengthen border control in line with international standards.

The event was attended by representatives from key migration and security bodies, including the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), and officials from various African and European nations.

According to Nandap, the STEP will act as a secure, verifiable, and temporary passport for Nigerians overseas who have lost their passports, or whose documents have expired or been stolen.

Awh noted the passport will be issued at Nigerian embassies and consulates and will only be valid for a single entry into the country.

“The forthcoming Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) will enable Nigerians abroad to return home safely in a secure and verifiable manner,” Nandap said.

She noted that the initiative demonstrates the Service’s dedication to efficient service delivery and the protection of citizens’ identities.

During her keynote address titled “Insights on Prevention and Protection as Strategic Pillars to Effective Law Enforcement and Prosecution Responses,” Nandap emphasized that the NIS reforms also target the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

The agency is strengthening its border management systems, improving staff training, and expanding international cooperation to address these challenges.

She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to active participation in global migration discussions and stressed that the NIS will continue to align its policies with international best practices to promote safe and orderly migration.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recently announced a major increase in passport application fees for Nigerians applying within the country.