The Nigeria Immigration Service has introduced a new update to its passport tracking system aimed at improving transparency and reducing delays for applicants.
In a statement on Thursday, the service announced the addition of a new status tagged “PRODUCED (PASSPORT PRODUCED, READY FOR COLLECTION).” This feature notifies applicants when their passport is ready for physical collection or courier delivery.
The update comes amid increasing complaints over uncollected passports and prolonged processing times. The NIS stated that the enhancement builds on the existing tracking system—where applicants check statuses like “paid,” “enrollment,” and “production”—to ensure applicants are promptly informed.
This move follows a public call-out by investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo on January 14, 2026. Soyombo detailed paying N109,700 for passport renewal in July 2025 but facing a six-month delay, with his tracker stuck on “passport pending production.”
In response, the NIS clarified that Soyombo’s passport had been produced months earlier but was not updated due to technical issues. The service noted that over 1.3 million passports were produced in 2025 and highlighted Nigeria’s improved ranking on the Henley Passport Index.
The agency explained that the update builds on the existing online tracking system, which already allows applicants to check their passport status using their application and reference numbers.
Before the update, applicants could only see stages such as paid, received, enrolment, NIN verification and production, a system that replaced frequent physical visits to immigration offices.
The NIS reiterated its commitment to an efficient system in line with global best practices, urging applicants to use the updated tracker for real-time status updates.
