“Presidency Justifies Passport Fee Hike: ‘Nigerians Already Paying More In Bribes’”

The Presidency has come out in defense of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) amid widespread criticism over the recent hike in passport application fees.

According to IReporter Online, the government argues that Nigerians have long paid even higher amounts unofficially through bribes to expedite passport processing.

President Bola Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant, Temitope Ajayi, stated on X on Friday that the new fee structure announced by NIS is actually a move to curb corrupt practices.

According to IReporter Online, Ajayi emphasized that the revised fees, effective from September 1, 2025, will now ensure that payments go directly into government coffers rather than private hands.

The new rates set by NIS specify that a 32-page passport valid for five years will cost ₦100,000, while a 64-page passport with a ten-year validity will be priced at ₦200,000.

These fees apply only to applications made within Nigeria, while passports obtained abroad remain at $150 and $230 respectively.

Despite the government’s explanation, public outrage continues to grow, with critics like Peter Obi condemning the hike as excessive and insensitive given Nigeria’s current economic realities.

Obi pointed out on X that the new fees surpass the recently approved minimum wage of ₦70,000, making it one of the highest passport costs globally relative to income.

According to IReporter Online, the opposition leader described the fee increase as “a burden on the populace” and a sign of the administration’s disconnect from ordinary Nigerians.

The Presidency maintains that by formalizing the costs, the government aims to eliminate the unofficial payments that citizens have been forced to make to secure their passports promptly.

According to IReporter Online, this move is intended to enhance transparency and ensure that the money benefits public funds rather than individual Immigration officers.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”