204,332
passport applications cleared from the backlog in three weeks.
Vanguard, 4 Oct 202303 / The Interior years
THE WORK.
THE RECORD.
A dated account of reform across the Ministry of Interior and its services.
5,000
passports a day from the new centralised personalisation centre.
Nairametrics, 18 Sep 202514,000+
e-visa applications processed in the first six weeks.
The Guardian Nigeria, Jul 20251,382
repeat offenders in 2025, down from 11,616 in 2023.
Realnews, 3 Jun 2026N6bn+
ministry revenue in 2024, against a N2bn target.
Nairametrics, 28 Jan 202530,150
new personnel approved for the paramilitary services in 2025.
FactCheckAfrica, Jun 2025671
illegal-mining arrests by the Mining Marshals since 2024.
The Guardian Nigeria, 14 Jul 20264,068
inmates released in the first decongestion drive of November 2023.
Pulse, 18 Nov 202301 / The institutions
Federal Ministry of Interior
Revenue, people and the administration of citizenship.
Revenue doubles the target
The Ministry generates N1.195bn between January and October 2023 against a budget target of N600m.
Nairametrics, 7 Dec 2023Six new marriage registries
Federal Marriage Registries approved for Asaba, Akure, Ibadan, Jalingo, Uyo and Makurdi, adding to six automated registries.
Leadership, Dec 2023A 35% quota for women
Directs that 35% of recruitment into the paramilitary services be reserved for women.
Pulse, 26 Jul 2024N6bn and 20,851 promotions
Revenue passes N6bn in 2024 against a N2bn target; 20,851 officers promoted in the year and 10,783 recruited across 2023–24.
Nairametrics, 28 Jan 202530,150 new recruits approved
The President approves the recruitment of 30,150 personnel into the Ministry’s services.
FactCheckAfrica, Jun 2025Lifetime pay for senior retirees
Presidential approval of lifetime salary for officers retiring at Deputy Comptroller-General level and above; more than 50,000 promotions in two years.
Leadership, 28 Aug 2025ECOWAS biometric identity card
Nigeria becomes the seventh ECOWAS member to issue the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, launched in Abuja on 28 November 2025.
Nairametrics, 28 Nov 202502 / The institutions
Nigeria Immigration Service
Passports, borders and the visa regime.
204,332 passports cleared
A backlog of 204,332 passport applications is cleared in about three weeks, with a standing two-week processing timeline announced.
Vanguard, 4 Oct 2023Fully automated passport portal
The NIN-based online passport application portal goes live on 8 January 2024.
ThisDay, 8 Jan 2024E-gates at Lagos and Abuja
Twenty-one e-gates installed at Lagos; Abuja’s installation declared complete in June, with Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt to follow.
Arise News, 26 May 2024Contactless renewal for the diaspora
Contactless passport renewal launches in Canada on 1 November 2024, then across Europe from 7 February 2025.
Biometric Update, Nov 2024BATTIC commissioned
President Tinubu commissions the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex at NIS headquarters: a command-and-control centre, an 8.3-petabyte data centre and monitoring of over 200 border points.
Blueprint, 11 Dec 2024E-visa and the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025
Visa-on-arrival is replaced by an e-visa from 1 May 2025; overstay penalties and a revised expatriate quota regime take effect.
KPMG Nigeria, Apr 202514,000 e-visas in six weeks
More than 14,000 visa applications are processed through the new e-visa system in its first six weeks.
The Guardian Nigeria, Jul 2025One passport hub, 5,000 a day
A Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre opens at NIS headquarters, the first in the Service’s 62 years, replacing 96 production points with capacity for 5,000 passports a day.
Nairametrics, 18 Sep 2025UK passport intervention
A special passport exercise in London enrols 1,477 applicants in its first four days.
Vanguard, Sep 202603 / The institutions
Nigerian Correctional Service
From incarceration to reformation.
4,068 inmates freed
N585m raised from individuals and companies pays the fines of indigent convicts; 4,068 inmates released from centres holding 80,804 people against a capacity under 50,000.
Pulse, 18 Nov 2023An independent panel
An Independent Investigative Panel on alleged corruption and abuses in the Service is inaugurated; it goes on to visit 86 centres in 23 states.
Ministry of InteriorOver 10,000 released
Cumulative releases pass 10,000; the Minister puts the saving in feeding costs at about N3bn a year.
Vanguard, 8 Oct 2024Recidivism down to 1,382
Receiving the panel’s report, the Minister reports repeat offending falling from 11,616 in 2023 to 3,156 in 2024 and 1,382 in 2025; the President approves a 50% rise in the inmate feeding allowance.
Realnews, 3 Jun 2026Education behind the walls
9,582 inmates in vocational training, 1,125 in formal education, 261 undergraduates and 62 postgraduates across 18 National Open University centres; three years without a custodial centre breached by attack.
Vanguard, 16 Jul 202604 / The institutions
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
Guarding critical infrastructure and the mining fields.
Armed cover for firefighters
The Corps is directed to provide armed protection for Federal Fire Service crews on call.
Vanguard, Oct 2023Mining Marshals
A 2,220-strong Mining Marshals unit is inaugurated with the Minister of Solid Minerals to confront illegal mining.
NAN, 21 Mar 2024671 arrests, 397 charged
The Marshals report 671 arrests since 2024, with 397 suspects charged at the Federal High Court and 133 sites raided in the first half of 2026.
The Guardian Nigeria, 14 Jul 202605 / The institutions
Federal Fire Service
Equipment, stations and a national academy.
21 new fire-fighting vehicles
Fifteen rapid-response vehicles and six fire trucks are commissioned at Fire Service headquarters, Abuja.
Ministry of Interior, Oct 2023A new station in Bayelsa
The Minister commissions a new fire station at Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State.
Vanguard, 27 Jun 2024National Fire Academy, Sheda
Inspection of the National Fire Academy at Sheda, Abuja, about 65% complete, planned to train crews in hazardous-materials and urban search-and-rescue response.
Ministry of Interior, 13 Feb 2026War on fake extinguishers
The Nigeria Fire Extinguisher Control initiative introduces digital traceability for extinguishers, with a target of more than 150,000 jobs.
The Guardian Nigeria, Apr 2026