The recent increase in the cost of a Nigerian passport has been deemed “unavoidable” by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), which cited several factors in its assessment.
The Service stated that a number of factors led to the necessity of the increase in a statement posted on the NIS’s official X account on Saturday.
The Service claims that the cost increase is necessary to fund the opening of more biometric centres and passport front offices, which would facilitate access, reduce traffic in already-existing facilities, and speed up nationwide passport processing.
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“Improve Passport standard and quality, ensuring the Nigerian Passport maintains the ICAO Standard.
“To address the cost of materials and production given current realities.” according to the statement.
The announcement also stated that the higher prices are intended to help domesticate Nigeria’s passport booklets, which aligns with the government’s #RenewedHope initiative to promote local content.
“With the new fees, the NIS will create more Passport front offices and biometrics centres, thereby increasing access to our facilities, decongesting existing centres and improving Passport production turnaround time.
“The recent increase in Passport fees would also help the Service actualise its drive for complete domestication of Nigeria Passport booklets,” NIS concluded.
Passport fees increment to worsens economic hardship – Ex-envoys
However, in an interview with the media, Yemi Farounbi, a former ambassador to the Philippines, clarified that while the increase could be required given the rise in inflation, the action would worsen the situation in the nation.
“There is nothing whose price has not gone up in the last year,” declared the former ambassador. Unfortunately, this load is borne by the impoverished; thus, instead of relieving the typical Nigerian or common man of his burden, we have made it much heavier. Increasing the cost of passports by about 100% or more won’t deter individuals who wish to leave because other factors are pulling them in a different direction.
Speaking as well, Rasheed Akinkuolie, a former consul of Nigeria in Cameroon, pointed out that the government should focus on more pressing matters than raising passport costs because more people were currently experiencing insecurity and because rising inflation was driving up the cost of goods.
Nigerians react
Some netizens expressed their displeasure with the move by taking to X, claiming that the hike was needless given the economy’s current state.
@Enwagboso, an X user, tweeted, “The government’s lack of empathy and consideration for its citizens is demonstrated by the 10-day notice for the passport price increase.” This should definitely be known by @nigimmigration and @officialABAT. It would be advisable to reassess the pricing plan and contemplate reversing or, at the minimum, delaying the effective date to January 1, 2025.
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@nigimmigration You guys just decided one morning to make life more difficult for the typical Nigerian, which is why the cost of a Nigerian passport has increased needlessly. Let’s commence by presenting the detailed breakdown of the expenses involved in producing a single passport. Commented @AareAAdeleke.
In excerpts, @Amin_Snoussi stated, “You’re raising the cost of obtaining international passports at a time when citizens can hardly afford two square meals a day?”
“Why not use the billions the Customs is generating for this?” asked @Lidocaine_v2, another user. Have our sufferings not been sufficient?
“There is no increase for this country…Only the standard of living is declining. Then @Twitdakoru answered.
According to @Jaiyejejeomo’s response, the real cost of obtaining a passport is significantly more than the recently disclosed charge.
This is the price “on the paper,” he wrote. Once you reach the immigration office, things are different. 180–230 for 64 pages is what they will tell you. Furthermore, an additional N30k + N10k will be paid for documentation if you choose to expedite it.