UK Passport: No Extra Charges For Special Intervention, Says Interior Minister

Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has addressed concerns over the difficulties Nigerians in the United Kingdom have experienced while applying for and processing international passports.

According to Ireporter Online, Tunji-Ojo said the Federal Government introduced the ongoing special passport intervention to provide Nigerians in the UK with additional options for completing their passport applications.

The minister, through his Media Adviser, Alao Babatunde, clarified that the intervention does not attract any additional or special charges beyond the officially approved passport fees.

He stated that applicants are required to pay $150 for a five-year validity passport and $230 for a 10-year validity passport, excluding applicable bank charges.

“It is therefore necessary to clarify that this process does not come with extra cost different from the official fees of $150 and $230 for five-year and ten-year validity passports respectively, exclusive of bank charges,” the minister said.

Tunji-Ojo further explained that neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service has introduced any additional fees outside the officially approved charges.

The minister acknowledged the inconvenience faced by some applicants and disclosed that discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the challenges and prevent them from persisting.

He assured Nigerians living in the UK and elsewhere that the administration remains committed to improving services for citizens both at home and abroad.

“This government has demonstrated a high level of responsibility to Nigerians at home and abroad, and remains committed to its promises of providing succour to all,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo also encouraged applicants to make use of the contactless biometric passport application system, which he described as a more seamless option for processing their applications.