FG Saves ₦1bn Annually from Passport Reforms, Issues Over 3.5 Million Passports in Two Years
The Federal Government has announced the issuance of over 3.5 million passports within a two-year period, alongside annual savings exceeding ₦1 billion through strategic reforms in the passport processing system.
Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known on Tuesday during the inauguration of a new Passport Front Office in Abuja.
He stated that the reforms align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at improving efficiency, security, and public service delivery.
According to the Minister, the administration inherited a backlog of more than 200,000 unprocessed passport applications and a debt nearing ₦20 billion in 2023. Both issues, he said, have since been resolved.
Providing a breakdown, Tunji-Ojo revealed that 3,080,141 passports were issued within Nigeria and 466,117 to Nigerians in the diaspora since August 2023 — totalling 3,546,258 passports.
He highlighted a major cost-saving reform: the full automation of breeder document uploads, such as birth and marriage certificates.
This digital upgrade, he noted, has eliminated the need for contractors, saving the government approximately ₦1 billion annually.
“We’ve stopped paying contractors for services Nigerians can now handle themselves. That money stays with the government,” he said.
The Minister also announced significant expansion in passport issuance infrastructure.
The number of centres issuing enhanced e-passports has grown from 26 to 44 within Nigeria, and from five to 47 internationally. All offices now issue harmonised, ICAO-compliant passports that are globally verifiable.
“Previously, various types of passports were issued, undermining our global credibility. Today, every Nigerian passport meets international standards,” he added.
He further disclosed that a new state-of-the-art passport personalisation centre—provided at no cost by Iris Smart Technologies—will become operational by August 2025. He lauded the company for its contribution to the government’s reform drive.
Nigeria, he said, now produces passports in over 50 locations globally and is a member of the ICAO Public Key Directory, enabling worldwide verification of Nigerian passports.
In a push for digital transformation, the Minister also announced that beginning July 31, all applications for Special Expatriate Permits and Temporary Work Permits must be processed online. Manual applications will be discontinued.
“We must ensure every applicant is accounted for through proper data, biometrics, and documentation. This is essential for national security,” he emphasized.
Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to digital governance, transparency, and efficient public service delivery through sustained reforms in the passport and immigration sector.
