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 stranded
or residing abroad.
Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna
Nandap, disclosed this during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the
Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes, co-hosted by Nigeria and the
Government of France.
According to Nandap, the STEP forms part of ongoing
NIS reforms aimed at strengthening identity management, enhancing border
governance, and aligning Nigeria’s migration processes with international
standards.
“The forthcoming Single Travel Emergency Passport
(STEP) will enable Nigerians abroad to return home safely in a secure and
verifiable manner,” she said, stressing that the initiative reflects the
Service’s commitment to efficiency and robust identity protection.
The new document, to be issued at designated
Nigerian embassies and consulates, will serve as a temporary travel
passport for citizens whose standard passports have expired, been lost, or
stolen. It will be valid for a single entry into Nigeria.
In her keynote address titled “Insights on
Prevention and Protection as Strategic Pillars to Effective Law Enforcement and
Prosecution Responses,” Nandap also outlined broader NIS reforms targeting
the prevention of migrant smuggling and human trafficking through
improved border governance, migration management systems, capacity building,
and strengthened international partnerships.
The event brought together representatives of major
migration institutions, including the National Commission for Refugees,
Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), NAPTIP, ECOWAS,
AU, EU, and officials from various African and European
countries.
Nandap reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and
global migration cooperation, pledging that the Service will continue to align
its policies with global best practices to ensure safe, orderly, and regular
migration.
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