Just got off the phone with a Nigerian consular official at the New York consulate and i got the shocking news that there is no more renewal of the Nigerian e-passport. called the consulate in Atlanta and DC and got the same response. The implication of this is that you have to apply in person (biometrics capture and all) for a Nigerian passport every five years. The previous E passport has an initial validity of 5 years after which it can be renewed (same passport with an extension sticker for another 5 years), making it viable for a total of 10 years. with the new regulation, an applicant will have to reapply and be reissued a new e-passport every 5 years.

Naija for life!!!

There's nothing new about this. The e passport has always been valid for just 5 years.

Renewal = new passport and you retain your old passport.

got this online from travel 9ja facebook page. its the procedure as of june 24 2013
"Nigerian passport has a life span of 10 years, with an initial validity of five years. After the first five years, you are required to renew your passport, and after 10 years you will need to obtain a new passport, also called a reissue.

When you renew your passport, a renewal sticker stating the next expiration date (five years from the renewal date) is placed on the observations page. You can renew your passport at the Passport Office of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), if you are within the country.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria has an embassy located in Washington, D.C. and consulates in New York and Atlanta making it easy to meet all your consular needs."

@Post

A Nigerian passport has a ten year life span. They passport is valid for 5 years and after that you can renew it for another 5 years. This is how it has always been. I just checked the Nigerian immigration website at http://www.immigration.gov.ng and this is what it says at the moment:

Explanatory Note:

No Nigerian is allowed to hold multiple standard passport
All Standard passports have a life span of 10 years with an initial validity of five (5) years.

OP, I don't know if this new rule you speak of has gone into effect here in Nigeria.