The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has unveiled a centralized passport personalization center, capable of producing up to 5,000 passports daily, a sharp increase from the previous output of 250 to 300 documents across multiple facilities, aiming to eliminate backlogs and deliver passports within a week.

Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo toured the new hub at NIS headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, calling it a transformative step after 62 years of decentralized operations.

Developed in partnership with IRISMAT Technologies Limited, the facility features advanced machinery that can handle 1,000 passports per hour, allowing the NIS to fulfill daily demands in just four to five hours.

"This puts an end to the era of backlogs and delays," Tunji-Ojo said,

The Minister further noted that the current administration inherited over 204,000 pending applications upon taking office, all now cleared through automation.

The reform supports President Bola Tinubu's modernization drive, enhancing document uniformity and global credibility while restoring public trust in government services. Tunji-Ojo highlighted the shift from a promised two-week delivery to a one-week target, aligning with international standards.

The move follows recent fee hikes effective September 1: a 32-page, five-year passport now costs N100,000 (up from N50,000), and a 64-page, 10-year version N200,000 (from N100,000), to fund improvements amid rising demand.