In a major development aimed at easing travel for Nigerians abroad, the Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the introduction of a new Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) — a temporary travel document that will replace the existing Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC).
The announcement was made by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap, during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes, co-hosted by Nigeria and France in Abuja.
According to NIS spokesperson ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, the new STEP document is designed for Nigerians abroad whose passports are expired, lost, or stolen, allowing them to return home safely and securely. The new initiative is part of ongoing NIS reforms to strengthen identity management, border security, and migration systems in line with global standards.
The STEP will be available at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates worldwide and will serve only for a single entry back to Nigeria, ensuring authenticity and security in the repatriation process.
The meeting also gathered top migration experts and representatives from ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), and the European Union (EU) to discuss ways to curb human trafficking and migrant smuggling across Africa and Europe.
In her keynote speech, Nandap stressed Nigeria’s firm commitment to safe, legal, and well-governed migration, highlighting new strategies that focus on capacity building, international cooperation, and border reforms.
This move is a bold step toward improving service delivery, identity protection, and Nigeria’s leadership role in global migration management.
