PRESS RELEASE
10th February 2026
Alleged Passport Service Disruption: FENRAD Cries Out, Condemns Undemocratic, Anti-People and Calculated Attempt Targeting the South-East Region
Enugu/ Nigeria
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), a frontline human rights and pro-democracy organisation in the South-East region of Nigeria, expresses deep concern over reports of alleged disruption and centralisation of international passport production services affecting the South-East geopolitical zone, a development which—if allowed to persist—constitutes an undemocratic, anti-people and regionally discriminatory action.
FENRAD notes with grave worry that this reported disruption appears to disproportionately target citizens of the South-East, while passport services in other regions of the country reportedly continue to function.
Such unequal application of public policy undermines the principles of fairness, equity, and equal citizenship guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution, and runs counter to international human rights standards as enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), both of which guarantee freedom of movement, equality before the law, and non-discrimination.
Reforms Must Not Become Instruments of Exclusion
While FENRAD acknowledges the Federal Government’s stated intention to reform and modernise passport administration nationwide, we stress unequivocally that no reform should be implemented in a manner that places undue hardship on one geopolitical zone. Reforms that result in unequal access to essential public services cease to be reforms and instead become tools of exclusion and marginalisation.
The South-East is home to millions of Nigerians whose livelihoods depend on international mobility for trade, education, healthcare, family reunification, and legitimate business activities. Any policy or administrative action that restricts timely access to passports for this region directly violates both national and international human rights principles and harms the economic, social, and human rights of its people.
A Question of Equal Citizenship
FENRAD questions the rationale behind a situation where citizens of the South-East may be compelled to travel long distances and incur additional costs to access passport services that remain available within other regions. This practice creates unequal burdens and reinforces perceptions of second-class citizenship, which is unacceptable in a democratic society.
Freedom of movement and access to public services are fundamental rights protected under both domestic law and international human rights instruments. Any administrative restructuring that undermines these rights—whether intentionally or by consequence—must be urgently reviewed.
A History That Demands Caution and Sensitivity
Given the longstanding concerns around structural marginalisation of the South-East, FENRAD emphasizes that government actions affecting the region must be guided by transparency, consultation, and sensitivity. Policies perceived as further isolating the region risk deepening mistrust, social tension, and national disunity.
✳️FENRAD’s Demands
FENRAD therefore calls on the Federal Government and the Nigeria Immigration Service to:
✅Provide immediate and clear public clarification on the status of passport production and issuance services affecting the South-East.
✅Ensure the prompt restoration and maintenance of full passport services within the region, pending any nationwide reforms.
✅Guarantee that administrative reforms are applied equitably across all geopolitical zones, without disproportionate regional impact.
✅Engage civil society organisations and affected communities before implementing policies with far-reaching social and economic consequences.
✅Ensure that all policies comply with both national law and international human rights obligations, particularly the ICCPR and ACHPR.
✳️Conclusion:
Nigerian citizenship must carry equal value in every part of the country. Any action—real or perceived—that undermines this equality is a threat to democracy, national unity, and social justice
.
📌FENRAD stands in solidarity with the people of the South-East and reaffirms its commitment to defending the principles of equity, dignity, freedom of movement, and equal access to public services as guaranteed under both domestic law and international human rights standards.
Justice, fairness, and inclusion must remain the foundation of governance in Nigeria—not selective administration
📌SIGNED;
Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor
Executive Director
Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD)
