Pat Stevens/
The Federal Government has announced that a new Digital Single Travel Emergency Passport will be launched in January 2026 to assist Nigerians abroad who lose their international passports.
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement on Friday in Abuja during the launch of the ECOWAS Biometric Identity Card.
He explained that the new platform, known as the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP), will provide a fast, technology-driven solution for distressed Nigerians overseas.
According to the minister, the system will allow affected citizens to generate an emergency travel document using any mobile device, removing the need for physical visits to Nigerian embassies before initiating the process.
“This initiative will enable Nigerians abroad who lose their passports to generate an emergency travel document using any mobile device without visiting an embassy,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He also urged Nigerians to continue to trust the government’s capacity to resolve national challenges and lend their support to ongoing reforms in the security and identity management sectors.
The STEP is designed to complement existing digital identity initiatives, including the recently launched ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC), which promotes seamless travel within West Africa while strengthening border security.
Earlier this month, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) disclosed that the Single Travel Emergency Passport would replace the current Emergency Travel Certificate.
The Service said the document would be issued through designated Nigerian embassies and consulates and would be valid for a single entry into Nigeria.
The NIS added that the introduction of STEP forms part of broader institutional reforms aimed at improving border governance, strengthening identity management and aligning Nigeria’s migration processes with international standards.
0Related posts:
Interrogating Two Years of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Under President Tinubu
Breaking Barriers: How Tunji-Ojo is Transforming Nigeria’s Immigration System
Faced with Threats of Regional Disintegration in West Africa, Resignation is Not an Option – Dr Olakounlé Gilles Yabi
Niger Republic, Nigeria, and Ecowas… War or No War?
From Chaos to Convenience: How the NIS Redefined Excellence at Passport Offices
A Nigerian Perspective on the Sahel: From Indulgence to Tough Love Against an Existential Threat