The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has clarified that it has not suspended passport operations in Kano, contrary to widespread reports. The clarification, issued on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, follows an internal directive to migrate 10 passport branches, including Farm Centre Kano, to the Central Personalisation Centre (CPC) as part of an administrative upgrade aimed at improving efficiency and security.
What the NIS Said
In a statement, the NIS explained that the directive, dated August 3, 2026, from the Passport and Other Travel Document Directorate, approves the migration of passport production to the CPC effective Monday, August 10, 2026. The affected centres are Farm Centre Kano, Dawakin Kudu Kano, Jalingo, Gombe, Yola, Bauchi, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Calabar, and Yenagoa.
The Service emphasised that the change affects only production logistics, not the enrolment process. Applicants can still visit their local centres for biometric data capture, and processed passport booklets will be dispatched from the CPC and delivered back to each location within standard timelines.
According to the NIS: "Applicants can still visit their local centres to complete biometric data capture seamlessly. This centralised production framework is designed to align with global security standards, streamline processing timelines, and significantly safeguard the integrity of the Nigerian passport."
Why Kano Stakeholders Are Protesting
The circular drew sharp criticism, particularly from Kano, where stakeholders argue that removing passport production from the state would create hardship for residents and businesses. Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad urged the NIS to reconsider, stating on X: "Kano is Nigeria's most populous state and serves as the commercial and economic hub of Northern Nigeria. Given our strategic importance, the state deserves adequate immigration services that reflect its population size and significance."
Another X user, Ahmad Loriman, described Kano as a major commercial hub and called on federal lawmakers from the state to intervene and push for the restoration of passport production centres.
Broader Digitalisation Drive
The NIS maintained that the migration is part of a broader modernisation drive. In February 2025, the service introduced a contactless passport application system allowing Nigerians to apply, submit biometrics, and make payments online. Additionally, from August 2025, all Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) applications moved exclusively online, ending physical forms as part of the Federal Government's immigration digitalisation programme.
This latest transfer of passport production functions to the CPC aligns with the NIS's goal to improve security, efficiency, and the integrity of the national passport system.
Impact and Next Steps
While the NIS assures that passport capture centres remain fully operational, the decision has sparked debate over the balance between centralisation and regional convenience. Stakeholders in Kano continue to press for reconsideration, citing the state's population and economic significance.
The NIS has not indicated any reversal of the directive, and the migration is set to proceed as scheduled. Residents and applicants are advised to continue using their local centres for biometric enrolment, with passport booklets to be delivered back to their locations after processing.
