The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Northern Caucus, has dismissed claims that the Federal Government’s ongoing passport centralisation reform is aimed at sidelining or disenfranchising Northern Nigeria, describing the allegations as false, misleading and politically motivated.
The association said the passport centralisation programme being implemented by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is a nationwide operational reform designed to improve security, efficiency and service delivery rather than target any region.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the caucus urged Nigerians, particularly residents of the North-East and North-West, to disregard what it described as deliberate misinformation surrounding the exercise.
The National Vice President (External Affairs) of NANS, Comrade Sadiq Zango, said the association decided to address growing public concerns following enquiries from passport applicants and stakeholders across the affected northern states.
According to NANS, the migration of passport production to the Central Personalisation Centre in Abuja does not affect passport processing or issuance at passport offices across the country or at Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad.
The association explained that the initiative is part of a broader modernisation programme aimed at strengthening the security, integrity and efficiency of Nigeria’s passport issuance system.
It disclosed that the NIS adopted a phased implementation strategy, with the first three phases completed between February 2025 and 2026, covering passport offices in the North-Central, South-East and South-West regions, excluding Lagos, as well as 41 Nigerian missions across Africa, Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania.
According to the group, the fourth phase, scheduled for August 2026, will include passport offices in the South-South, North-East and North-West, including Calabar, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Yenagoa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jalingo, Yola, Farm Centre Kano and Dawakin Kudu Kano.
“It is therefore far from the truth to suggest that the Federal Government is attempting to disenfranchise the North or any part of the country through this process,” the statement said.
NANS further explained that under the new operational framework, passport booklet printing and security personalisation have been consolidated into a secure, high-capacity production hub in Abuja to ensure passports are produced within two weeks.
It stressed that passport offices nationwide would continue to receive applications, process requests and issue passports as before.
The association added that the reform would eliminate manual interference in passport personalisation, reduce document fraud, strengthen accountability and improve the security features of Nigerian passports.
Expressing confidence in the Nigeria Immigration Service, NANS said the agency remains committed to deploying technology-driven solutions that align Nigeria’s passport system with global best practices.
The association appealed to Northerners to remain calm and ignore rumours capable of creating unnecessary tension.
