The Federal Government has cleared over ₦20 billion in debt and eliminated a staggering 200,000 passport backlog it inherited before President Bola Tinubu assumed office.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the revelation on Tuesday in Abuja while inaugurating a new Passport Front Office.
He credited the feat to reforms under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying the ministry has now issued over 3.5 million passports since August 2023.
“When we came in, there was a backlog of over 200,000 passports and nearly ₦20 billion in debt. Today, that backlog has been cleared, and the debt has been settled,” Tunji-Ojo said.
Out of the total 3,546,258 passports issued, 3,080,141 were processed in Nigeria. Another 466,117 were issued to Nigerians abroad.
Automation Cuts Waste, Saves ₦1 Billion Annually
The minister said passport processing has been overhauled with digital solutions, removing waste and reducing dependency on contractors.
“This is a major reform. We no longer pay contractors for what Nigerians can upload themselves. That money stays with government now,” he said.
He explained that documents like birth and marriage certificates can now be uploaded directly during application, eliminating unnecessary third-party payments.
According to him, this has helped the government save over ₦1 billion yearly and restore trust in Nigeria’s immigration system.
Enhanced e-Passport Centres Rise to 91 Worldwide
Tunji-Ojo also disclosed that centres issuing the ICAO-compliant enhanced e-passports have increased to 44 across Nigeria and 47 globally.
Before now, there were only 26 such centres in Nigeria and five overseas. Many Nigerians had to travel long distances to get these standardised passports.
He added that all passport offices now issue harmonised, enhanced e-passports—putting an end to the previous inconsistencies that damaged Nigeria’s global image.
In August 2025, a new central passport personalisation centre will open in Abuja. It will run on state-of-the-art technology and is fully funded by Iris Smart Technologies.
The minister also confirmed that Nigeria is now a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Public Key Directory. This enables real-time global verification of Nigerian passports.
“We must ensure our citizens have travel documents that the world can trust,” he said.
From July 31, all applications for Special Expatriate Permits and Temporary Work Permits must also be done online.
“Manual processing will no longer be allowed. We must have the data, biometrics, and documentation of every applicant for national security,” he added.
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