The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has unveiled plans to introduce a Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) to replace the existing Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) for Nigerians living abroad. This new initiative aims to enhance identity management and border governance, aligning with global best practices.
According to the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, the STEP will serve as a secure and verifiable temporary travel document for Nigerians whose passports have expired, been lost, or stolen while abroad. The passport will be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates, allowing for a single entry into Nigeria. This development is part of the agency’s ongoing reforms to strengthen migration management and combat human trafficking.
The announcement was made during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes, co-hosted by Nigeria in collaboration with the Government of France. The meeting brought together key migration stakeholders, including regional and international organizations, to discuss strategies for effective law enforcement and prosecution responses to migration challenges.
Nandap emphasized that the STEP initiative underscores the Service’s commitment to efficient service delivery and robust identity protection. The Comptroller-General also highlighted the Service’s broader reform agenda, which focuses on enhanced border governance, improved migration management systems, capacity building, and strengthened international collaboration to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking.
The introduction of the STEP is expected to facilitate safe and orderly migration for Nigerians abroad, enabling them to return home in a secure and verifiable manner. The Nigeria Immigration Service has reaffirmed its commitment to regional and global migration dialogues, aligning its policies and operations with international standards to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration across borders. With this development, Nigerians living abroad can expect improved services and protection from the Nigerian government.