Nigeria has officially ended its dual passport regime, unifying all passport issuances under the Enhanced Passport system.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, by the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during the commissioning of a new Passport Front Office at the Ministry of Interior secretariat, Garki, Abuja.
According to the minister, the new office, built at no cost to the federal government, was delivered through a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnership with Iris Smart Technologies Limited.
“When we came on board two years ago, we noticed that our Ministry despite being the supervisory ministry to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) did not have a passport front office where our staff could easily access the service. We took it upon ourselves to change the story,” Tunji-Ojo said.
What This Means
With the end of the dual passport regime, Nigeria now operates a unified passport issuance system that ensures every citizen receives the same Enhanced Passport.
According to the Minister, the Enhanced e-Passport, embedded with biometric data and compliant with global standards, replaces the older Harmonised Passport, which had become obsolete and inconsistent with international best practices.
“We met a dual passport regime where Nigerians were divided by the type of passport they carry. While some were holders of the old Harmonised Passport, others were carrying the Enhanced Passport,” Tunji-Ojo explained.
“Today, we have moved past that as a nation, and now have a single passport regime where everyone can obtain the Enhanced Passport across the country and in the diaspora.”
Why It Matters
According to experts, the reform addresses years of inefficiencies, backlogs, and unequal access to passport services across Nigeria and in the diaspora.
Many Nigerians struggled with delays and document scarcity, often unable to obtain the more secure Enhanced Passport due to limited production centres. Tunji-Ojo said this shift wasn’t just about standardisation, it was about fairness and progress.
“What used to be a scarce document is now readily available. And, in just two years, we have issued about 3.5 million passports to Nigerians at home and abroad, saving the government over a billion naira annually,” he noted.
Understanding Nigeria’s Single Passport Regime
Nigeria’s new single passport regime is a federal policy mandating that only the Enhanced Passport will be issued by all authorised centres worldwide.
It eliminates the two-tier system, simplifies identity verification, and reduces the risk of fraud or misidentification. The Enhanced Passport is integrated with biometric authentication and is globally accepted.
“Today, we are ahead of trends as contactless application is now available globally. For us, we are proud that the #RenewedHope government has brought passport acquisition closer to the people,” said the minister.
What Makes Nigeria’s Reform Unique?
According to industry analysts, Nigeria’s approach is unique in that it eliminated a long-standing division between holders of the old Harmonised Passport and the Enhanced e-Passport.
Here’s what makes the reform particularly distinctive:
- Nigeria ended the long-standing division between the old Harmonised Passport and the Enhanced e-Passport, a challenge most other African countries didn’t face.
- In just two years, passport production centres grew from 26 to over 40 in Nigeria and from 5 to more than 45 overseas, ensuring all centres issue only the Enhanced Passport.
- Nigeria now offers fully digital and contactless passport applications accessible globally, a first-of-its-kind system in West Africa.
- New passport front offices, including the one in Abuja, were built at no cost to government through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, showing effective public-private partnership.
- The reform saved the government over ₦1 billion annually by streamlining issuance and eliminating delays and scarcity that once plagued the system.
How Nigeria’s Passport Reform Compares Across Africa
Several African countries have modernised their passport systems by adopting biometric e-passports. Countries like Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda have rolled out e-passports in line with ICAO standards, often replacing older versions over time.
However, unlike Nigeria, most did not operate two parallel passport systems. Ghana, for instance, adopted biometric passports in 2010 and is now integrating digital validation through its national ID, while Kenya and Rwanda completed phased transitions to e-passports.
Talking Points
At Techparley, we see Nigeria’s move to end the dual passport regime as a bold step toward fixing long-standing inefficiencies in identity documentation.
The transition to a single Enhanced Passport system eliminates confusion, restores uniformity, and ensures all Nigerians, at home and abroad, have equal access to secure, globally recognised identification.
By expanding production centres and rolling out contactless application systems, the government is reducing bottlenecks while embracing digital innovation in public service delivery. The Abuja front office sets a strong example of how private-sector collaboration can solve real infrastructure challenges.
The shift also brings passport acquisition closer to everyday Nigerians, especially those in remote regions or the diaspora. We believe this unified system lays the groundwork for broader digital governance reforms that prioritise inclusion, efficiency, and trust.
That said, sustained success will hinge on continuous availability, affordability, and responsiveness. Ensuring that citizens can navigate the new system seamlessly, especially the elderly, rural dwellers, and first-time applicants, must remain a key priority.
Ultimately, Nigeria’s passport reform positions it as a potential model for digital identity transformation across Africa. With the right long-term commitment, it could drive deeper civic inclusion and improved mobility for millions of Nigerians.
