The Federal Government has defended its decision to raise the cost of obtaining Nigerian passports, describing the move as part of ongoing reforms to improve service delivery and safeguard the integrity of travel documents.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had earlier announced that, beginning from 1st September, 2025, a 32-page passport with five-year validity will cost N100,000, while a 64-page passport with ten-year validity will be N200,000 for applications within Nigeria while fees for applicants abroad will remain $150 and $230 respectively.
This adjustment represents the second major upward review in just over a year. In August 2024, the 32-page passport was increased from N35,000 to N50,000, while the 64-page booklet rose from N70,000 to N100,000.
Speaking during a mid-tenure performance retreat in Abuja, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said the new rates are linked to reforms aimed at reducing bottlenecks and corruption in passport processing.
He noted that under the new system, passports are expected to be produced within one week of enrolment, supported by a centralised passport production centre described as the largest in Africa.
The minister also disclosed that the approval powers previously held by Passport Control Officers (PCOs) have been withdrawn to curb abuse of office. According to him, the reform is designed to end delays and instances where applicants allegedly paid large sums to expedite processing.
Tunji-Ojo further stressed that the changes are also intended to protect the authenticity of Nigerian passports amid concerns of fraudulent issuance.
He cited a recent case involving a Ugandan woman arrested at Lagos airport for allegedly obtaining a Nigerian passport illegally.
The new charges, however, mark a significant increase in costs for Nigerian citizens, coming at a time of economic strain and following a similar adjustment just a year earlier.
