Why Nigeria’s Passport Fees Were Jacked Up — FG

THE Federal Government on Nigeria has defended the 100 per cent increase in Nigerian International passport fees.

It said it was necessary to curb corruption, improve service delivery, and ensure the production of high-quality travel documents.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), in a statement issued and signed by its Public Relations Officer, ACI AS Akinlabi, had announced that from September 1, 2025, passport applications made within Nigeria will now cost N100,000 for a 32-page passport with five-year validity and N200,000 for a 64-page, 10-year validity booklet.

“The review, which only affects passport application fees made in Nigeria, now sets a new fee threshold for 32-page with five-year validity at N100,000 and 64-page with 10-year validity at N200,000,” the NIS said.

Meanwhile, fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged at $150 and $230 respectively.

Stonix News recalls that the Federal Government had, earlier in August 2024, raised the passport fees from N35,000 to N50,000 for the 32-page booklet, and N70,000 to N100,000 for the 64-page version.

Defending the latest hike amounting to twice in just one year, Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the increment was part of the ongoing passport reforms aimed at reducing delays, eliminating human interference, and restoring public confidence in the issuance process.

“Our target is very clear: within one week of enrolment, every Nigerian should have their passport in hand. Not just delivering quickly, but delivering quality passports that reflect our integrity as a nation,” he said on Thursday during the Ministry’s mid-tenure performance retreat in Abuja.

According to Tunji-Ojo, passport issuance had become plagued with long backlogs, extortion, and inefficiencies, issues the new system aims to eliminate.

“Nigerians used to apply for passports and wait endlessly or be asked to pay hundreds of thousands of naira. Even my own daughter had that bad experience.

“While I was chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, I had to pay hundreds of thousands just to get a passport for my 12-year-old daughter. That era is over,” he said.