Tension is mounting across Nigeria’s South East following reports that the region’s only passport production centre, located at the Nigeria Immigration Service zonal headquarters in Enugu, may be shut down, a development that could disrupt urgent travel plans for thousands of applicants.
Sources within the Nigeria Immigration Service, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, disclosed that passport production activities at the Enugu facility have allegedly been halted after a directive said to have originated from the Federal Ministry of Interior.
The centre currently serves Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states, providing critical services, especially for emergency passport processing.
According to the source, a team of technical personnel believed to have arrived from Abuja began dismantling key passport production machines earlier in the day.
The removal of the equipment, if completed, would effectively end local passport issuance within the South East, forcing applicants to travel outside the region for urgent services.
Many applicants with immediate travel needs fear they may miss important deadlines if emergency processing is moved to Abuja, a shift that would increase transportation costs, delay timelines, and add pressure to an already stretched system.
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Observers say the situation also raises broader questions about access to federal services and regional balance in public infrastructure.
Some stakeholders and community leaders have reportedly begun calling on political representatives from the South East to urgently engage with federal authorities and clarify the true status of the facility.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Ministry of Interior have not released any official statement confirming or denying the alleged shutdown.
The absence of formal communication has further fueled speculation, leaving applicants uncertain about the next steps.
For now, many residents remain on edge, hoping for swift clarification from authorities before any final decision is taken that could reshape passport processing across the region.
Peter Agba Kalu
