 has unveiled plans to introduce a Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP), a new biometric document to assist Nigerians){kind=link}
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has unveiled plans to introduce a Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP), a new biometric document to assist Nigerians abroad whose passports have expired, been lost, or stolen.
Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, made the disclosure during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes held in Abuja, which Nigeria co-hosted with France.
According to a statement by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, the initiative will replace the existing Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) as part of 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 in a secure and verifiable manner,” Nandap explained.
She added that the document would be issued only at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates and valid for a single entry, reflecting the Service’s drive for efficient service delivery and improved identity protection.
The meeting brought together local and international stakeholders, including NAPTIP, ECOWAS, AU, EU, and other migration bodies, to enhance collaboration against human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
Nandap reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global migration cooperation, stressing that the NIS would continue to align its policies with international standards to promote safe and orderly migration.