TRIBUNE
Following the announcement of an increase in the fees for obtaining a Nigerian passport, Nigerians have continued to react differently, effective from 1 September 2024, with some describing the action of the federal government as showing a ‘lack of empathy’.
Tribune Online reports that the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government, through the spokesperson of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), DCI Kenneth Udo, stated late Wednesday that the adjustment in passport fees is part of the government’s efforts to uphold the quality and security of the Nigerian Standard Passport.
He said, “Based on the review, 32-page Passport booklet with 5-year validity previously charged at Thirty-five Thousand Naira (N35,000.00) will now be Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) only; while 64-page Passport booklet with 10-year validity which was Seventy Thousand Naira (N70,000.00) will be One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) only. However, the fees remain unchanged in Diaspora.
“While the Nigeria Immigration Service regrets any inconvenience this increase might cause prospective applicants; it assures Nigerians of unwavering commitment to transparency and quality service delivery at all times.”
The announcement of the passport fee increase has, however, generated mixed reactions from social media users.
Taking to X to express their dissatisfaction with the development, some netizens described the increase as unnecessary, arguing that it comes at a time of economic hardship.
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