The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced plans to introduce a Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) to replace the existing Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) for Nigerians living abroad.
The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, said the initiative is part of the Service’s ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening identity management and border governance in line with international best practices.
Nandap made this known while addressing participants at 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 major migration stakeholders, including representatives from NCFRMI, NAPTIP, ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), and various African and European countries.
According to the Comptroller-General, the STEP will serve as a secure and verifiable temporary travel document for Nigerians abroad whose passports have expired, been lost, or stolen. The document will be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates and will be valid for a single entry into Nigeria.
“The forthcoming Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) will enable Nigerians abroad to return home safely in a secure and verifiable manner,” Nandap stated, emphasizing that the initiative reflects the Service’s commitment to efficient service delivery and robust identity protection.
In her keynote address titled “Insights on Prevention and Protection as Strategic Pillars to Effective Law Enforcement and Prosecution Responses,” Nandap outlined the NIS reform agenda, which focuses on combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking through enhanced border management, improved migration systems, capacity building, and stronger international cooperation.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global migration dialogues, adding that the NIS will continue to align its operations with international standards to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration across borders.
