FG, NIS Unveil New Single Travel Emergency Passport for Nigerians Abroad

The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has announced the introduction of a new Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) for Nigerians living abroad.

The new document, which will replace the existing Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC), is designed to serve as a temporary travel passport for Nigerians whose standard passports have expired, been lost, or stolen.

Comptroller General of the NIS, Kemi Nanna Nandap, made this known at the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes, co-hosted by Nigeria and the Government of France.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the NIS Public Relations Officer, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, the initiative aims to ensure that Nigerians abroad can return home safely, securely, and in a verifiable manner.

“The forthcoming Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) will be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad. It will be valid for a single entry, reinforcing the Service’s commitment to efficient service delivery and robust identity protection,” Nandap said.

She noted that the introduction of STEP is part of ongoing reforms to enhance identity management, strengthen border governance, and align Nigeria’s immigration procedures with global best practices.

The high-level meeting brought together key stakeholders in migration management, including representatives of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), NAPTIP, ECOWAS, African Union (AU), European Union (EU), and several African and European countries.

The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking, and to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration across borders.

Delivering her keynote address titled “Insights on Prevention and Protection as Strategic Pillars to Effective Law Enforcement and Prosecution Responses: The Nigeria Immigration Service Perspective,” Nandap reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to regional and international migration frameworks.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service will continue to align its policies and operations with international standards to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration,” she added.