The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce a Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) to replace the current Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC).
Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap, made the disclosure at the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes, jointly organized by Nigeria and the Government of France.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Service’s spokesperson, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, the Immigration boss explained that the new STEP will serve as a temporary travel document for Nigerians abroad whose passports are expired, lost, or stolen, allowing them to return home securely and verifiably.
She noted that the document will be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad and will be valid for single entry only, reflecting the Service’s commitment to efficient service delivery and strong identity protection.
According to the NIS, the initiative is part of its ongoing reforms to strengthen identity management and border governance in line with global best practices.
The high-level meeting brought together key stakeholders in migration management, including the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), as well as representatives from ECOWAS, AU, EU, and various African and European nations.
The forum aimed to enhance coordination on prevention, protection, and prosecution responses to migrant smuggling and human trafficking, while fostering inter-agency cooperation and alignment of legal frameworks. It also highlighted the need for collective action to tackle the root causes of irregular migration and protect the rights of migrants and trafficking victims.
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 outlined the Service’s reform agenda, which focuses on combating smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons through enhanced border management, capacity building, and international collaboration.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global migration dialogues, emphasizing that the NIS will continue aligning its operations with international standards to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration across borders.
