The Federal Government of Nigeria has staunchly defended its decision to double the cost of international passports to N100,000 for a 32-page booklet with five-year validity and N200,000 for a 64-page version with 10-year validity, effective September 1, 2025.
Officials argue that the increase is essential for maintaining high-quality documents, eradicating corruption in the issuance process, and guaranteeing swift delivery, even as critics decry it as insensitive to the nation’s ongoing economic woes.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) announced the fee adjustment in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration (ACI) A.S. Akinlabi, emphasizing that the move applies solely to applications processed within Nigeria.
“In a bid to uphold the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Passport, the Nigeria Immigration Service hereby announces an upward review of Nigerian Standard Passport fees, set to take effect on 1st September 2025,” the statement read.
Fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged at $150 for the 32-page passport and $230 for the 64-page option.
This marks the second major hike in just over a year, following an August 2024 increase that raised prices from N35,000 to N50,000 for the 32-page booklet and from N70,000 to N100,000 for the 64-page one.
The latest adjustment, representing a 100% rise, comes amid broader reforms under the Ministry of Interior to modernize passport services.
Defending the policy during the ministry’s mid-tenure performance retreat in Abuja, Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo highlighted the government’s commitment to efficiency and security.
“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,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
He pointed to a new centralized personalization center capable of printing five times the current demand, which would reduce vetting time to 24 hours and eliminate bottlenecks.
The minister also addressed past issues, noting that applicants previously endured waits of up to seven months and paid up to N200,000 in bribes for expedited service.
“We realised that the best way to cut corruption is to remove human contact to the barest minimum. Passport approval will no longer rest with passport control officers. My responsibility is not for them to like me — it is to deliver efficiency,” he added.
Tunji-Ojo further explained the need to protect national integrity, citing incidents like the arrest of a Ugandan woman at Lagos Airport who had obtained a Nigerian passport for $1,000 through illicit means. “That cannot continue. Our passport must remain a true symbol of Nigerian identity,” he declared.
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