NIS Says Kano, Other Passport Offices Remain Open Amid Reform
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO — The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Thursday assured Nigerians that the Kano Passport Office and other passport centres across the country remain open and fully operational despite the ongoing Passport Centralization Reform.
The Service said the reform has not disrupted passport processing or issuance, urging applicants to continue accessing services at their preferred passport offices and designated Nigerian missions abroad.
In a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration (DCI) Akinsola Akinlabi, said the reform is part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s passport issuance system by centralising passport booklet production at the NIS headquarters in Abuja.
Akinlabi said the initiative is intended to strengthen the security, integrity and efficiency of passport production while aligning the country’s passport system with international best practices.
He explained that the reform is being implemented in phases to ensure a smooth transition without interrupting services. Kano is among the states scheduled to come under the fourth phase of the rollout this month.
According to the NIS spokesman, passport offices will continue to accept applications, process requests and issue completed passports, while booklet printing and security personalisation will be handled centrally in Abuja.
He added that the new system is expected to curb document fraud, eliminate manual interference in passport personalisation and improve accountability through enhanced security features.
The Service urged Nigerians to disregard concerns over the reform, insisting that passport services remain available nationwide as it continues to deploy technology to improve service delivery.