By Abiola Olawale
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially debunked viral reports claiming that it has suspended or restricted the issuance of passports in the South-East region of the country.
In a statement released on February 7, 2026, the Service Public Relations Officer, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, described the reports as “baseless” and “a gross misrepresentation” of the agency’s ongoing digital reforms.
The NIS clarified that no region is being excluded from passport services; rather, the country is undergoing a phased transition to a more secure, centralized production framework.
According to the NIS, the perceived delays or changes in the South-East are part of a broader modernization effort that began in 2024.
The denial follows growing public concern and media reports suggesting that passport production activities in parts of the country, particularly the South-East, were being halted, raising fears of restricted access for applicants.
The NIS said these narratives were misleading and capable of generating unnecessary tension if left unaddressed.
Akinlabi explained that the NIS is implementing a phased onboarding system to migrate passport offices, including those in foreign missions, to a centralised production framework. He said the initiative is part of broader reforms that began in 2024 to strengthen efficiency, security, and integrity in passport administration.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigeria Immigration Service has been drawn to a baseless online report claiming that a specific region of the country has been disqualified from passport issuance. NIS categorically states that this report is entirely false and a gross misrepresentation of the ongoing government reforms to modernize passport administration.
“The reality is that NIS has introduced a phased onboarding system to migrate passport offices, including those in foreign missions, to a centralized production framework.
“This modernization effort, which began in 2024, is designed to enhance the efficiency, integrity, and security of Nigeria’s passport production system and not exclude any citizen.
“Consequently, the service has established a strict work-plan calendar to ensure this transition is seamless and does not disrupt delivery timelines as the goal is to drive the process towards greater efficiency.”
