LThe Federal Government has announced that the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) will be launched in January 2026, offering a digital solution to assist Nigerians abroad who lose their passports.

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement on Friday in Abuja during the launch of the ECOWAS Biometric ID Card.

He said the new system will allow citizens to generate an emergency travel document using any mobile device, eliminating the need to visit an embassy in person.

“This initiative will enable Nigerians abroad who lose their passports to generate an emergency travel document using any mobile device without visiting an embassy,” Tunji-Ojo said.

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He urged Nigerians to trust the government’s capacity to tackle national challenges and called for collective support for ongoing security reforms.

The STEP is expected to complement other digital identity initiatives, including the recently launched ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC), which facilitates travel within West Africa and strengthens border security.

Earlier this month, the NIS announced that it will introduce the Single Travel Emergency Passport to replace the Emergency Travel Certificate.

The NIS explained that the document will be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates and will be valid for a single entry.

The Service said the initiative forms part of wider reforms to strengthen border governance, enhance identity management, and align its operations with international migration standards.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun enforcement actions on 1,095 revoked property titles in Asokoro, Maitama, Garki, and Wuse districts of Abuja.

Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, disclosed the development in a statement on Friday.

He said the titles were revoked due to non-payment of Ground Rent, Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) bills, penalty or violation fees, and land use conversion fees.

Olayinka explained that the enforcement followed the expiration of a 14-day final grace period on Tuesday.

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He noted that the property owners had disregarded a series of public notices issued by the FCTA from May through November, which appeared in national newspapers, online platforms, and television stations.

The notices instructed defaulters to settle their financial obligations or risk losing their titles.

“Based on the foregoing, the general public, particularly holders of property in the FCT, are hereby notified that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, has approved the commencement of enforcement actions on 1,095 properties in the territory for defaulting in various payments,” Olayinka stated.

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He added that the defaults contravene Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act and the terms and conditions of grant of the respective Rights of Occupancy.

“Following the expiration of the final 14-day grace period, the FCT Administration will carry out enforcement actions on 835 properties for defaulting in payment of Ground Rent and 260 properties for defaulting in payment of Violation Fee and Land Use Conversion Fee,” Olayinka said.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately release 27 houses wrongly seized by the commission.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order while giving judgment in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/348/2025 filed by the EFCC.

The EFCC had, on 13 March, obtained an ex-parte interim forfeiture order against the 27 properties, which it claimed were acquired from proceeds of unlawful acts.

Following its publication of the interim forfeiture order in the Punch newspaper on 4 April, as ordered by the court, James Ikechukwu Okwete and his company, Jamec West African Limited, claimed ownership of 26 of the properties, while Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo showed interest in House No. 12, Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja.

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Okwete, Jamec Ltd, and Oladapo objected to the EFCC’s subsequent application for final forfeiture of the properties and, in a judgment on 31 October, Justice Abdulmalik upheld their objection, dismissed the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture, vacated the earlier order for interim forfeiture, and ordered the commission to immediately release the properties.

In the 31 October judgment, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik said, based on her analysis of the evidence presented before the court, “I firmly find that the property owner/respondent’s (Okwete’s) affidavit to show cause has merit.
“Additionally, I hold in favour of Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo, being the person interested in House No. 12, Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT, that since the learned senior counsel for the applicant (EFCC) has informed court that it has no objection to her affidavit to show cause, that her affidavit filed to show cause stands substantiated in its entirety.

“Without more, I forthwith set aside and vacate in its entirety the interim order of forfeiture granted on 13 March 2025 to the applicant in respect of the properties listed in the schedule attached to the applicant’s ex-parte originating motion.
“Accordingly, I order the immediate release of the aforementioned properties and their documents to the property owner/respondent, and House No. 12, Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT, to Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo respectively.

“In that vein, the applicant’s motion for final forfeiture, along with the corresponding responses filed, are now otiose. I so hold,” Justice Abdulmalik said.
However, the lawyer to Okwete and Jamec Ltd, Serekowei Larry, SAN, has written to the Chairman of the EFCC, complaining about the commission’s alleged failure to comply with the judgment.

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The 27 November letter, written by Larry on behalf of Okwete and Jamec Ltd, reads: “We write as counsel to Mr James Okwete and his company, Jamec West Africa Ltd, ‘the property owners,’ to formally apprise you of the events that have followed this case since 31 October 2025, when judgment was given against you.
“As indicated above, judgment was given by the Federal High Court, coram: Hon. Justice Joyce O. Abdulmalik, on Friday 31 October 2025, in the presence of your counsel, led by Maryam Hayatudeen, Esq.
“On 14 November 2025, the judgment order was served on your good office and nothing was done to obey it.

“On 26 November 2025, the Federal High Court, through its Enforcement Unit led by Mrs Lilian Amenger, proceeded to your office to execute the judgment, which simply required your office to hand over the title documents of the properties, subject matter of the suit, to the officials of the court.

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“In straight words, your office refused to do so, thereby blatantly disobeying the said judgment, which in its penultimate paragraph used the words ‘the immediate release.’

“In any regime, let alone a democracy, it would be the height of it if judgments of court are blatantly disobeyed. We, however, want to believe that you are not aware of what happened; hence this letter.

“We anticipate your positive reaction within a reasonable time before we take further steps.”