The Federal Government has approved an upward review of the fees for the Nigerian passport effective from September 1, 2024.
The decision, according to a statement by DCI KT Udo, Service Public Relations Officer Service Headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service on Wednesday, is part efforts to maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport.
“As part of its efforts to maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport, the Federal Government has approved an upward review of the fees for the passport, effective from September 1, 2024.
“Based on the review, a 32-page passport booklet with five-year validity previously charged at N35,000 will now be N50,000 only; while a 64-page passport booklet with 10-year validity which was N70,000 will be N100,000,” the statement read.
The NIS said though it regretted “any inconvenience this increase might cause prospective applicants,” it assured Nigerians of “unwavering commitment to transparency and quality service delivery at all times.”
A social media user, Oludotun Adana wrote “Everything is just adding price. Do these guys running this country actually know what they’re doing?”
Another user, Chukwuma Onyekwelu demanded that the federal government shift the implementation date to next January, 2025.
However, the move has generated reactions among netizens, many of who worried about the financial strain the new fees might impose.
Some also questioned the 10-day notice given, noting that the notice duration was too short.
“Minister @BTOofficial, a reasonable approach to this increase in fees is to give the public a notice to prepare for it within a reasonable time. Please, you may shift the commencing date to 1st January 2025.
“Don’t wait for the citizens to protest before you do the right thing!,” he said.
Also, Tee, an X user, wrote: “In this hardship, you people are still increasing the fee. Why are you people this evil and wicked?”
“Let’s overlook the excuse of the unavailability of 64 pages booklets by your officials who go ahead to print five years booklets for same price.
“Just last year, 32 pages was 25,000 on your website, this year it became 35,000 and the year is not even over, 50,000,” @ThxOCA wrote.