Nigeria Immigration Service STEP passport to replace Emergency Travel Certificate, aiding Nigerians abroad with lost or expired passports
Nigeria Immigration Service STEP — The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has unveiled plans to introduce the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP), a biometric travel document designed to assist Nigerians abroad whose passports are expired, lost, or stolen.
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The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, announced the initiative during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes held in Abuja, which Nigeria co-hosted alongside the Government of France.
In a statement by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, Nandap explained that the STEP will replace the current Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) as part of the agency’s ongoing reforms to strengthen identity management and border governance.
“The STEP will serve as a temporary travel document for Nigerians abroad whose passports are expired, lost, or stolen, enabling them to return home securely and verifiably,” she said.
According to the NIS, the STEP will be issued only at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates and will be valid for a single entry, reinforcing the Service’s commitment to efficient service delivery and robust identity protection.
The initiative marks another powerful step in modernising Nigeria’s migration systems in line with global best practices.
The Abuja forum, attended by key regional and international stakeholders—including ECOWAS, AU, EU, NAPTIP, and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs—focused on strengthening cooperation to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking.
In her keynote titled “Insights on Prevention and Protection as Strategic Pillars to Effective Law Enforcement and Prosecution Responses,” Nandap reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to safe, orderly, and regular migration.
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She added that the Service will continue to align with international standards while building capacity for improved migration management and cross-border collaboration.
