Abuja, July 9, 2025 — The Federal Government has issued more than 3.5 million passports in under two years, while saving over ₦1 billion annually through strategic reforms, Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji‑Ojo announced today.
The minister revealed these achievements during the inauguration of the Ministry’s new passport front‑office in Abuja. Since August 2023, 3,080,141 passports were processed locally, with an additional 466,117 issued abroad, bringing total issuance to 3,546,258 passports .
Dr. Tunji‑Ojo attributed the savings to automation of processes such as the uploading of supplementary documents—birth and marriage certificates—which previously cost the government about ₦1 billion annually. He stated: “We no longer pay contractors for services Nigerians can now perform themselves. The money remains within government” .
The minister explained that reforms align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to improve efficiency, security, and service delivery . A backlog of over 200,000 passport applications and nearly ₦20 billion debt inherited in 2023 has been fully cleared, he added .
Enhanced passport processing facilities have also been expanded, with e‑passport centres rising from 26 to 44 nationwide and from 5 to 47 overseas . Every passport office now issues ICAO‑compliant, globally verifiable passports .
The minister emphasized that by July 31, all applications for Special Expatriate Permits (SEPAC) and Temporary Work Permits (TWP) must be submitted online, with manual processing to be discontinued. “Biometrics and transparency are non‑negotiable,” he said .
He acknowledged Iris Smart Technologies for donating advanced passport production equipment at no cost to the government and urged ministry staff to keep enhancing service standards to build public trust .
