The Federal Government has clarified the recent increase in passport fees, stating that it is not feasible to subsidize the issuance of the travel document.
The increase, which has drawn criticism from many Nigerians, saw fees rise by approximately 45 percent.
At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, explained that the fee adjustment was driven by the high exchange rate between the dollar and the naira. He noted that in August, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) announced the upward review of passport fees.
Under the new payment structure, the cost of a 32-page passport booklet with a five-year validity increased from N35,000 to N50,000, while the 64-page booklet with a 10-year validity rose from N70,000 to N100,000.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the Federal Government cannot subsidize passport fees, pointing out that a passport is a personal travel document, unlike the National Identity Card, which is provided free of charge to citizens.
He also stressed that the government was not exploiting Nigerians but merely covering the cost of passport production. He clarified that the price increase does not affect fees for Nigerians living abroad.
“The increase in passport fees is based on a cost-benefit analysis, particularly considering the exchange rate between the naira and the dollar. If the government were to subsidize anything, passports wouldn’t be a priority. The increase is only from N35,000 to N50,000, which is about 45%, and there has been no change for Nigerians abroad,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
He added that Nigerians in the diaspora, especially those in countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, will soon benefit from more streamlined passport acquisition processes. Automated systems are set to launch by October, allowing for more efficient processing.
For instance, in London, where there are 16,000 passport applications, the system’s current capacity at the Nigerian Embassy is about 200. The new system will eliminate the need for multiple journeys to acquire a passport.
Addressing concerns about passport booklet shortages, the Minister assured the public that the NIS has over 80,000 booklets in stock and has cleared all passport backlogs.
He also confirmed that the NIS no longer owes its service providers for printing and supplying passports.
