The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rolled out a significant upgrade to its passport application tracking system. This move is designed to enhance communication with applicants and tackle the persistent issue of delays in passport collection across the country.
Addressing the Pile of Uncollected Passports
The decision for the upgrade came after NIS officials identified a critical problem: hundreds of already produced passports were lying uncollected at various offices. This backlog was leading to a surge in complaints from frustrated applicants who were unsure of the status of their documents.
In a statement released on its official X (formerly Twitter) platform, the Service confirmed the update, stating it was a direct response to the observed inefficiency. The core of the new system is a clearer, more informative status update that explicitly tells applicants when their passport is ready.
New, Clearer Tracking Stages for Applicants
The enhanced platform now provides a more detailed breakdown of the application journey. The key addition is the status labeled "PRODUCED (PASSPORT PRODUCED, READY FOR COLLECTION)". This notification is intended to eliminate guesswork, informing applicants precisely when they should visit the passport office or expect a delivery if they opted for courier services.
The NIS outlined the updated stages an application will now pass through:
- Paid: Application payment confirmed and vetted.
- Application Sent: Application forwarded to the passport office workstation.
- Application Received: Passport Office confirms receipt.
- Ready For Enrollment: Application is at the selected office for biometrics capture.
- NIN Verification: National Identification Number successfully verified.
- Production Queue: Passport production is in progress.
- Produced: Passport produced, ready for collection.
- Passport Issued: Passport has been issued and collected.
This step-by-step transparency aims to keep applicants informed at every phase, reducing confusion and unnecessary visits to immigration offices.
Reforms Amidst Public Scrutiny
The NIS reaffirmed that this technological improvement is part of its broader commitment to establishing a more efficient and user-friendly passport administration system that aligns with international standards.
However, the Service's reforms continue to face public scrutiny. Investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo recently called out the NIS on X over a delay in receiving his renewed passport. Soyombo, founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), stated he paid N109,700 six months prior but had not received his document, questioning the touted reforms by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
In its response, the NIS acknowledged that Soyombo's passport had been ready for months but faced delivery challenges. The Service argued that a single case should not define the assessment of reforms that have generally improved a previously crisis-ridden process.
This system update follows the NIS's announcement of new passport fees effective September 1, 2025. The revised rates for applications within Nigeria are N100,000 for the 32-page, 5-year validity passport and N200,000 for the 64-page, 10-year validity passport. Fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged at $150 and $230, respectively.
