Nigerians planning international travel or passport renewals will face a temporary halt in online passport services as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) rolls out critical maintenance on its digital platform. Starting at midnight today, the system, which has processed millions of applications, will go offline for 42 hours, testing the resilience of the country’s evolving border management system.
The NIS has scheduled a comprehensive upgrade to its Passport Digital Platform, aimed at improving efficiency amidst growing demand for e-passports. A public notice issued on Friday via the agency’s official X account, signed by Public Relations Officer Assistant Controller of Immigration (ACI) A.S. Akinlabi, announced that the maintenance would occur from 12:00 a.m. GMT on December 12 to 6:00 a.m. GMT on December 14, 2025. This maintenance window, falling over the weekend, is likely to disrupt fresh applications, renewals, and status checks for thousands of users dependent on the portal.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service wishes to inform the general public that it is carrying out routine maintenance on its Passport Digital Platform to enhance system performance and overall user experience,” the notice read. During this period, applicants may encounter slower response times, limited access to certain services, or complete outages. The NIS has emphasized that technical teams will be working continuously to restore full functionality by the deadline, highlighting the upgrade’s role in bolstering a “secure and efficient digital passport ecosystem.”
This upgrade comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s immigration infrastructure. Launched in phases since 2023, the digital platform has transformed passport issuance from a manual, delay-prone process into a streamlined online service. By January 2024, the platform enabled full remote applications, including biometric uploads and payments, for citizens both in Nigeria and abroad. This shift aligns with federal reforms under Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who has prioritized digital identity management to reduce fraud and accelerate services. In less than two years, the reforms have cleared a backlog of over 200,000 applications and boosted passport issuance rates to over 3.5 million, a record high reflecting growing mobility needs.
However, the platform’s success has not come without challenges. With annual applications exceeding 1.7 million, the system handles immense pressure, particularly from the diaspora. In countries such as Canada, the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, and Jamaica, contactless biometric renewals have significantly reduced processing times, from weeks to just days. Innovations like these have directly benefited sectors such as tourism and business travel, where timely documentation can be crucial for success. For instance, the recent rollout of a digital Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) platform has simplified work permits for expatriates, driving economic inflows estimated in billions of naira annually through streamlined residency processes.
The timing of this maintenance amplifies its importance for everyday users. Nigeria’s passport, ranked 88th globally in the July 2025 Henley Passport Index its best position in 11 years now offers visa-free or on-arrival access to 45 destinations, many within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). While this modest improvement reflects diplomatic gains, it also underscores the passport’s critical role in facilitating education, trade, and family reunification abroad. Disruptions like this upgrade risk compounding frustrations, especially given the recent hike in passport fees to ₦100,000 for a standard 32-page booklet and ₦200,000 for a 64-page version doubling the previous rates and sparking debates about affordability amid ongoing inflation.
Adding to the challenge, the NIS’s communication channels have faced recent disruptions. On December 9, the agency activated temporary social media handles for complaints after its primary support accounts, including @NIS_Response, were taken down, likely due to platform policy enforcement or technical issues. “Following the recent takedown of our support complaints accounts… the Nigeria Immigration Service has activated temporary backup complaint-response channels to ensure uninterrupted feedback while restoration efforts continue,” the announcement stated. Affected users can now reach out via X handles @InquireAtNaija, @nigimmigration, and @InquireAtNaija_, as well as Instagram and email at support@immigration.gov.ng or complaints@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng. This stopgap measure addresses a surge in queries, especially since the contactless features launched for diaspora users in November 2024 have processed over 15,000 passports remotely, though occasional glitches have led to delays and misinformation.
For applicants in the middle of this upgrade window, the practical implications are immediate. Those in process are advised to print confirmation receipts in advance, while new users should delay submissions until Sunday. Businesses planning ECOWAS expansions or families awaiting reunions may need to adjust timelines, as the downtime could impact visa applications dependent on passport validity. On a broader scale, these upgrades reflect Nigeria’s commitment to building a fully digitalized border management system, with innovations like the upcoming Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) scheduled for January 2026. This mobile-generated document will provide a quick solution for stranded citizens abroad, reducing reliance on embassies.
As the NIS appeals for patience, similar maintenance exercises earlier in 2025, such as the January portal upgrade, had minimal impact on diaspora services.
“Our technical teams are working around the clock to ensure full service restoration within the stated timeframe,” ACI Akinlabi reiterated in the notice.
