NIS to Launch New Single Travel Emergency Passport for Nigerians Abroad

The Federal Government is set to introduce a new temporary travel document known as the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) for Nigerians living overseas. The document will replace the current Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) and is designed to assist citizens who need to return home due to expired, missing, or stolen passports.

Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap, announced the development during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes, co-hosted by Nigeria and France in Abuja.

In a statement issued by the Service’s spokesperson, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, the new STEP document will be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates. It will allow only a one-time entry into Nigeria, ensuring secure and verifiable travel arrangements.

Nandap noted that STEP is part of the NIS’s ongoing reforms to enhance identity management and strengthen border control in line with international standards. She said the initiative prioritizes both efficient service delivery and improved protection of citizens’ identity data.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders in migration and border governance, including representatives from ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), and the European Union (EU). Discussions focused on strengthening joint efforts against migrant smuggling and human trafficking across African and European routes.

Delivering her keynote address titled “Insights on Prevention and Protection as Strategic Pillars to Effective Law Enforcement and Prosecution Responses,” the Comptroller General reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional coordination and international best practices in migration management.

She emphasized that the NIS will continue to collaborate with global partners to ensure safe, orderly, and lawful movement of people across borders.