The Federal Government has issued over 3.5 million international passports within two years and saved more than ₦1 billion annually through sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s passport processing system.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during the inauguration of a new Passport Front Office in Abuja, dedicated to easing processing for senior public officials and other designated individuals.
Speaking at the event, the minister noted that the reform initiative, aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, has drastically improved service delivery and security protocols in passport administration nationwide.
“When we assumed office in 2023, we inherited a backlog of over 200,000 unprocessed passports and nearly ₦20 billion in debt. Today, that backlog and the debt have been cleared,” he said.
According to Tunji-Ojo, between August 2023 and July 2025, a total of 3,546,258 passports were issued — 3,080,141 issued locally, and 466,117 issued in the diaspora.
The newly launched Front Office is designed to streamline passport application and renewal processes for senior citizens and top-level government officials, who often faced long queues and delays at standard immigration offices.
“Before now, many high-ranking public servants had to abandon their official responsibilities just to process their passports,” said Ozoya Imohimi, Director of Press at the Ministry. “This new system ensures more efficient service delivery for those charged with leading the nation.”
Tunji-Ojo commended the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Iris Smart Technologies, which provided the digital infrastructure powering the advanced facility, for their professionalism and collaboration.
He added that this innovation marks “a turning point” in the government’s mission to redefine public service, reiterating the ministry’s commitment to extending the same reforms across other sectors.
The Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, also lauded the efforts of all stakeholders, describing the new office as a pivotal development in Nigeria’s digital transformation and public service modernization drive.
