The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi has criticised the federal government for what he described as its increasing tendency to worsen the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
Obi’s reaction followed the recent hike in international passport fees by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). The cost of a 32-page booklet has risen to ₦100,000, while the 64-page version now costs ₦200,000.
In a statement posted on his X page, the former Anambra State governor described the new charges as outrageous and disconnected from the country’s harsh economic realities.
“The obsession of this administration with putting a burden on the populace is becoming legendary and continues to reveal its apparent disconnect with the people and the suffering,” Obi wrote.
He noted that this was the third increase in just two years. “The International Passport fees in Nigeria have now skyrocketed to ₦100,000 for a 32-page booklet and ₦200,000 for 64 pages. In a country where the new minimum wage is only ₦70,000, the cost of a single passport now exceeds a worker’s monthly salary, probably the only country in the world to achieve this feat,” he said.
Obi added that rather than alleviating hardship, the government was shifting more weight onto the shoulders of struggling citizens. “It is alarming that the price of the international passport is higher than what workers earn in a month,” he wrote.
The latest adjustment comes less than a year after the government raised passport fees in August 2024, when the cost of a 32-page, five-year booklet rose from ₦35,000 to ₦50,000, and the 64-page, 10-year booklet increased from ₦70,000 to ₦100,000.
Obi’s remarks add to growing public criticism of the hikes, with many Nigerians questioning why the government continues to escalate the cost of essential documents amid rising inflation and stagnant wages.
Melissa Enoch
Follow us on: