Nigeria’s new Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) will officially debut in January 2026, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced on Friday in Abuja during the rollout of the ECOWAS biometric ID card.
The new document is designed to replace the long-used Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC), which serves Nigerians who lose their passports or become stranded abroad. Earlier this month, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, confirmed that STEP would take over from the ETC, describing it as a more secure, verifiable and modern option for emergency travel.
Tunji-Ojo, while giving more clarity on the reforms, said the innovation will allow stranded citizens to apply for the emergency passport directly from their mobile devices without going to an embassy. He noted that the ministry is working to simplify processes for Nigerians abroad and strengthen trust in the government’s ability to resolve long-standing national issues.
According to the NIS, the single-use passport will be valid for only one entry into Nigeria. The agency said the introduction of STEP forms part of wider reforms aimed at boosting border governance, improving identity management and aligning Nigeria’s migration system with global standards.
The minister appealed to Nigerians to support ongoing security and migration reforms, stressing that the government is committed to delivering more citizen-friendly solutions across critical sectors.
