This declaration was made by the Acting Comptroller General of NIS, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, during her visit to Lagos.

In response to the challenges faced by Nigerians in obtaining their passports, NIS has taken this step to address the situation. The spokesperson for NIS, Tony Akuneme, confirmed this in a statement.

Concerns over the delay in passport renewal and issuance prompted the Senate to instruct its committee on interior to investigate the reasons behind the delays. Nigerians have expressed numerous complaints about renewing or obtaining new passports from the service.

During her visit to Lagos, the Acting Comptroller General inaugurated a state-of-the-art visa-on-arrival lounge at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport. This initiative showcases her commitment to enhancing the overall travel experience for visitors entering Nigeria, as stated in the released statement.

The declaration of a state of emergency on passport issues by the NIS demonstrates the service's renewed dedication to resolving the challenges faced by Nigerians who are seeking to obtain passports.

“Following this, she paid an unscheduled visit to the Alausa passport office to assess the situation firsthand.

“In her address, Ag. CGI Adepoju emphasised the necessity to dismantle all man-made bottlenecks that impede the passport application process.

“She further stressed that the NIS top management is fully committed to addressing institutional and technology-based drawbacks to ensure more efficient and streamlined service delivery.

“The state of emergency declaration on passport issues signifies the renewed commitment of NIS to resolving the challenges faced by Nigerians seeking to obtain passports.

“It represents a call to action for all stakeholders to prioritise efficiency, transparency, and excellence in service delivery,” it added.