Nigeria high commission cuts UK passport intervention fee from £70 to £20 after backlash

The Nigeria High Commission in the United Kingdom has reduced its passport intervention fee from £70 to £20 following public backlash, TheCable reports. The commission lowered the charge on Wednesday but did not notify applicants of the change on its website. The outlet reported the commission had bypassed a previous directive from late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration capping such charges at £20.

Officials said the commission collected fees from about 3,000 applicants despite capacity for fewer than 300 daily. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, said he was concerned about the inconvenience and denied authorising the additional administrative fees, adding that consultations were ongoing with the ministry of foreign affairs. Biometric capturing was suspended in London on Tuesday.