By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as an alleged disruption and centralisation of international passport production services affecting Nigeria’s South-East geopolitical zone.
In a press statement issued in Enugu on February 10, 2026, the frontline human rights and pro-democracy organisation warned that any administrative action that disproportionately affects one region of the country risks undermining constitutional guarantees of equality, fairness, and freedom of movement.
Allegations of Regional Disparity
FENRAD stated that reports suggest passport services in the South-East may have been disrupted or centralised in a manner that compels residents of the region to travel long distances to access services that remain operational in other parts of the country.
According to the organisation, such a development, if confirmed, would amount to unequal application of public policy and impose additional financial and logistical burdens on citizens of the region.
The group noted that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees equal citizenship, while international instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) protect freedom of movement and non-discrimination.
“Reforms Must Not Become Instruments of Exclusion”
While acknowledging the Federal Government’s stated intention to modernise passport administration across Nigeria, FENRAD cautioned that reforms must be implemented equitably and transparently.
The organisation stressed that administrative restructuring that results in unequal access to essential public services ceases to qualify as reform and instead becomes a mechanism of exclusion.
FENRAD highlighted that millions of Nigerians in the South-East depend on international mobility for trade, education, healthcare, business, and family obligations. Any disruption in passport services, it argued, carries significant economic and social implications.
Call for Clarification and Equal Application
The advocacy group called on the Federal Government and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to provide immediate clarification regarding the status of passport production and issuance in the South-East.
It further urged authorities to:
- Restore and maintain full passport services within the region pending any nationwide reforms.
- Ensure administrative changes are applied uniformly across all geopolitical zones.
- Engage civil society and affected communities before implementing policies with far-reaching consequences.
- Guarantee compliance with both domestic law and international human rights obligations.
A Matter of National Unity
FENRAD emphasized that governance must be guided by transparency, consultation, and sensitivity, particularly in regions where historical concerns of marginalisation exist.
The organisation warned that policies perceived as discriminatory could deepen mistrust and social tension, stressing that Nigerian citizenship must hold equal value across all parts of the federation.
FENRAD reaffirmed its commitment to defending equity, dignity, and equal access to public services, calling for justice, fairness, and inclusion to remain the cornerstone of governance in Nigeria.
— Newspot Nigeria
