A prominent human rights and pro-democracy group has raised an alarm over what it describes as a “calculated attempt” to marginalise the South-East region through the alleged disruption and centralisation of international passport production services.
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) issued a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, condemning the reported service interruptions as undemocratic and discriminatory.
The group argued that while passport offices in other geopolitical zones remain operational, the South-East is being disproportionately targeted by administrative bottlenecks.
Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the Executive Director of FENRAD, characterised the development as a violation of the fundamental rights of South-Easterners.
“Any unequal application of public policy undermines the principles of fairness and equal citizenship guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution,” Nwafor stated. “This reported disruption runs counter to international human rights standards, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees freedom of movement and non-discrimination.”
The organisation noted that while it acknowledges the Federal Government’s goal of modernising passport administration, these reforms must not become instruments of exclusion. FENRAD highlighted that millions of Nigerians in the South-East rely on international travel for trade, education, and healthcare.
“Reforms that result in unequal access to essential public services cease to be reforms and instead become tools of marginalisation,” Nwafor added. “We question the rationale behind a situation where citizens of this region may be compelled to travel long distances and incur additional costs to access services that remain available elsewhere. This reinforces perceptions of second-class citizenship, which is unacceptable in a democratic society.”
Given the historical context of structural marginalisation in the region, the advocacy group warned that such policies risk deepening national mistrust and social tension. FENRAD urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian Immigration Service to act with transparency and sensitivity.
In its list of requirements, the group called for an immediate public clarification on the status of passport production in the zone. They demanded the prompt restoration of full services and insisted that any nationwide administrative restructuring be applied equitably across all six geopolitical zones.
“Nigerian citizenship must carry equal value in every part of the country,” the statement concluded. “Justice, fairness, and inclusion must remain the foundation of governance in Nigeria not selective administration.”
