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 abroad.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, disclosed this as part of the Service’s ongoing reforms to strengthen identity management and border governance in line with global best practices.
She made the announcement 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 stakeholders in migration management, including the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), and representatives of various African and European countries.
According to Nandap, the new STEP document will serve as a secure and verifiable temporary travel passport for Nigerians abroad whose passports are expired, lost, or stolen.
“The forthcoming Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) will enable Nigerians abroad to return home safely in a secure and verifiable manner,” she said, adding that the initiative reflects the Service’s commitment to efficient service delivery and robust identity protection.
She explained that the STEP will be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates and 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 highlighted the broader reform agenda of the NIS, which focuses on combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking through enhanced border management, capacity building, and strengthened international partnerships.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global migration dialogues, noting that the NIS will continue to align its operations with international standards to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration.
