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The Digest:

The Federal Government will launch the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) in January 2026, providing stranded Nigerians abroad with a digital lifeline home. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced the initiative during the ECOWAS biometric ID card launch, describing it as a secure alternative to the existing Emergency Travel Certificate.

Key Points:
  • New STEP system launches in January 2026 for emergency travel situations
  • Replaces the current Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) for stranded Nigerians
  • Allows passport generation via mobile devices without embassy visits
  • Valid for a single entry into Nigeria only
  • Part of broader immigration service reforms
  • Aims to enhance border governance and identity management
  • Aligns Nigeria's migration systems with international standards
In moments of crisis abroad, a digital passport becomes more than documentation—it becomes an anchor of hope, rooting citizens to their homeland despite the storms of circumstance.

Sources: The Cable, Business Day