The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced plans to launch a Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) to assist Nigerians abroad whose passports have expired, been lost, or stolen.

Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, revealed this during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes held in Abuja, co-hosted by Nigeria and France.

According to a statement by the NIS Public Relations Officer, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, the STEP will replace the existing Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) as part of ongoing reforms to strengthen identity management and border governance in line with global best practices.

Nandap explained that the new document will serve as a temporary, single-entry travel passport, issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad, to enable affected citizens to return home securely and verifiably.

The forum also gathered migration management stakeholders, including representatives from NAPTIP, ECOWAS, AU, EU, and other African and European countries, to discuss strategies for tackling migrant smuggling and human trafficking through enhanced cooperation on prevention, protection, and prosecution.

In her keynote address, titled “Insights on Prevention and Protection as Strategic Pillars to Effective Law Enforcement and Prosecution Responses,” Nandap reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to aligning immigration operations with international standards and promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration across borders.