The Federal Government has announced that it will introduce the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) in January 2026— a fully digital solution designed to help Nigerians abroad who lose their passports.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealed this on Friday in Abuja during the launch of the ECOWAS Biometric ID Card.
According to him, the new system will allow affected Nigerians to generate an emergency travel document directly from their mobile devices, removing the stress of physically visiting an embassy.
“This initiative will enable Nigerians abroad who lose their passports to generate an emergency travel document using any mobile device without visiting an embassy,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
He urged citizens to trust the government’s ability to address national challenges and emphasized the need for collective support for ongoing security and identity-management reforms.
The STEP initiative will work alongside other digital identity programs, such as the newly launched ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC), created to ease travel within West Africa and strengthen border security.
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Earlier this month, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) confirmed that STEP will replace the current Emergency Travel Certificate. The document will still be issued through designated embassies and consulates and will be valid for a single entry.
The NIS noted that this upgrade is part of broader efforts to modernize border control, improve identity verification, and align migration processes with global standards.
