FG Rolls Out New Emergency Passport For Nigerians Abroad.

Passport.

The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce a new travel document known as the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) to replace the existing Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC).

Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap, revealed this during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes, jointly hosted by Nigeria and the Government of France.

According to the Service’s spokesperson, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, who released a statement on Wednesday, the new passport will “serve as a temporary travel document for Nigerians abroad whose passports are expired, lost, or stolen, enabling them to return home in a secure and verifiable manner.”

Nandap explained that the STEP document would be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates worldwide and would only be valid for a single entry into Nigeria. She emphasised that the initiative underscores the Service’s commitment to efficiency, security, and strong identity protection.

The immigration agency noted that the new measure forms part of its broader reform efforts to strengthen identity management and border governance, ensuring compliance with international standards.

The high-level meeting brought together major migration management stakeholders in Nigeria and beyond, including representatives from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP), ECOWAS, AU, EU, and various African and European nations.

The forum focused on enhancing cooperation in tackling migrant smuggling and human trafficking, fostering coordinated responses, and promoting best practices among participating agencies. It also aimed to reinforce the protection of migrants’ rights and ensure effective legal action against transnational criminal networks.

Delivering her keynote address titled “Insights on Prevention and Protection as Strategic Pillars to Effective Law Enforcement and Prosecution Responses: The Nigeria Immigration Service Perspective”, Nandap outlined ongoing reforms targeting migrant smuggling and human trafficking through improved border governance, stronger migration systems, and international collaboration.

She reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to regional and global migration dialogues, stating that the NIS would continue to align its policies and operations with international standards to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration across borders.