The federal government has provided four primary justifications for the increase in the cost of the Nigerian international passport which takes effect from September 1, 2024.
In a circular released on Saturday, the Nigerian Immigration Service attributed the fee increase to four key reasons and considerations by the agency.
It was previously reported that the Nigerian Immigration Service had announced an increase in passport fees for Nigerians residing within the country.
Specifically, the fee for a 32-page passport booklet with a 5-year validity will rise from N35,000 to N50,000. Additionally, the cost of a 64-page passport booklet with a 10-year validity will increase from N70,000 to N100,000.
The announcement led to substantial backlash from Nigerians, who are already facing high living costs and economic hardships. Many have criticized the government’s decision, viewing it as insensitive to the challenges faced by ordinary citizens.
Responding to the public outcry, the NIS issued a circular detailing the reasons for the increase in passport fees across various categories.
The statement released on Saturday, NIS said:
“4 Reasons for the increase in the price of the Nigerian standard passport:
“Improvement in Passport standard and quality, ensuring that the Nigerian Passport continues to maintain the ICAO Standard.
“To address the cost of materials and production given current realities.
“With the new fees, the NIS will create more Passport front offices and biometrics centres, thereby increasing access to our facilities, decongesting the already existing centres and improving Passport production turnaround time.
“The recent increase in Passport fees would also help the Service actualise its drive for the complete domestication of Nigeria Passport booklets.
“This is in furtherance of the #RenewedHope Agenda of Mr. President to build local content.”
Nigeria’s passport system has seen significant improvements, especially under the leadership of Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
In May 2024, the government announced that home delivery of passports would start in June, eliminating the need for Nigerians to visit immigration offices. This initiative is part of a broader effort to streamline passport issuance and enhance accessibility.
