FG Denies South East Passport Office Shutdown Claims

The Nigerian government has refuted claims regarding the shutdown of passport offices in the South East, labeling such reports as false and misleading. A statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, February 7, 2026, clarified that there has been no closure of passport issuance in the region.

The ongoing changes in the passport process are part of a nationwide program aimed at modernizing Nigeria's passport administration, which is set to commence in 2024. The reforms are designed to eliminate bottlenecks and improve service delivery for citizens both at home and abroad.

The government emphasized that the reform is not targeted at any specific geopolitical zone. Several states, including Borno, Yobe, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Plateau, have successfully onboarded the new system.

Additionally, passport offices in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states are scheduled for migration within the first quarter of 2026. The government urged Nigerians to disregard speculative narratives that could inflame public sentiment and reaffirmed its commitment to equitable service delivery across all regions.