The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced plans to introduce a new biometric Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP), designed to assist Nigerians abroad whose passports have expired, been lost, or stolen, to return home securely.
Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, revealed this development during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes held in Abuja, co-hosted by Nigeria and the Government of France.
In a statement released on Wednesday by the NIS Public Relations Officer, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, Nandap explained that the STEP will replace the current Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) as part of the Service’s ongoing reforms to enhance identity management and border governance in line with international standards.
“The STEP 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 said.
She added that the new document would be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates and would be valid for single entry only, reinforcing the Service’s commitment to efficient service delivery and strong identity protection.
The meeting brought together key migration stakeholders, including representatives from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, NAPTIP, ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union, and various African and European countries.
Discussions focused on enhancing collaboration to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking, with emphasis on prevention, protection, and prosecution across migration corridors.
Delivering her keynote address, titled “Insights on Prevention and Protection as Strategic Pillars to Effective Law Enforcement and Prosecution Responses,” Nandap highlighted the Service’s broader reform agenda to strengthen migration management systems, international cooperation, and institutional capacity.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global migration frameworks, stressing that the NIS would continue to align its operations with global best practices to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration.
