Enugu, Nigeria – Growing anxiety is sweeping across Nigeria’s South-East geopolitical zone following unconfirmed reports that the region’s sole passport production centre, located at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) zonal headquarters in Enugu, may be permanently shut down or severely curtailed.
Sources within the Nigeria Immigration Service, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, told journalists that passport production activities at the Enugu facility have reportedly been suspended following a directive purportedly issued by the Federal Ministry of Interior.
According to the insiders, a team of technical personnel believed to have been dispatched from Abuja arrived at the centre earlier today and began dismantling critical passport production machines and related equipment. If the removal is completed, local issuance and emergency processing of Nigerian passports would effectively cease in the five South-East states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—forcing all applicants to seek services outside the region, most likely in Abuja or other distant centres.
The Enugu facility has long served as the primary passport production hub for the entire South-East, handling both standard and expedited (emergency) applications. It is especially vital for residents requiring urgent international travel, business trips, medical evacuation, academic programmes, or family emergencies abroad.
Applicants with imminent travel deadlines expressed deep concern that relocating emergency processing to Abuja would impose significant additional burdens, including:
High transportation and accommodation costs for journeys to the Federal Capital Territory
Extended processing delays due to increased pressure on other centres
Logistical challenges for elderly applicants, students, and those with limited mobility
Heightened risk of missing flight bookings, visa appointments, or critical deadlines
The reported development has sparked widespread unease among travellers, business owners, students, and families across the region. Many described the possible shutdown as disruptive and potentially discriminatory, arguing that it would severely limit access to a basic federal service in an already underserved zone.
The situation has also reignited broader debates about equitable distribution of federal infrastructure, regional balance in public service delivery, and the federal government’s commitment to addressing historical marginalisation concerns in the South-East.
Community leaders, civil society organisations, and some political stakeholders have begun calling on South-East governors, senators, House of Representatives members, and other elected officials to urgently intervene. They are demanding immediate engagement with the Presidency, the Ministry of Interior, and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service to clarify the status of the Enugu centre and prevent any irreversible decision.
As of the time of this report, neither the Nigeria Immigration Service nor the Federal Ministry of Interior has issued an official statement confirming, denying, or explaining the alleged directive and equipment removal. The silence from federal authorities has only intensified speculation, uncertainty, and public apprehension.
Applicants who visited the Enugu NIS office today reported mixed messages: some staff indicated that normal operations had been paused pending further instructions, while others advised intending applicants to monitor official channels for updates.
The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, are yet to comment publicly on the matter. An official clarification is now eagerly awaited to either allay fears or provide guidance on alternative arrangements for passport services in the South-East.
For thousands of residents with pressing international obligations, the next few days could prove decisive. Many are urging swift resolution to avoid unnecessary hardship and to preserve the functionality of a critical public service hub that has served the region for years.
Stakeholders warn that any prolonged disruption or permanent relocation of passport production capacity away from the South-East could have far-reaching social, economic, and political implications, further testing public confidence in federal institutions.
The situation remains fluid, with residents and travellers anxiously awaiting an official position from the relevant authorities.
