The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Thursday, January 15, unveiled an upgraded passport tracking system amid widespread complaints over processing delays.
The update posted by the service on X on Thursday followed rising public clamour over delays in passport issuance and collection.
According to the service, it had observed that hundreds of passports produced had remained uncollected, leading to increasing complaints from applicants.
The updated system introduces a new status, “Produced (Passport produced, ready for collection)”, to the existing passport tracker.
The feature is intended to give applicants clearer visibility on when their passports are ready for pickup or courier delivery, thereby reducing uncertainty around processing timelines.
The development followed weeks of heightened criticisms from passport applicants, including prominent Nigerians, who have taken to social media to express frustration with the process.
Public outcry on X had seen users report delays stretching into several months, as well as allegations of deliberate bottlenecks within the system.
However, the service said the new tracker status would help applicants distinguish between production delays and passports that are ready but yet to be retrieved.
“This update enhances the existing tracking system, and helps applicants stay informed about timelines for passports produced and awaiting collection (for physical collection) or produced but not delivered (for courier delivery),” NIS added
