Passport scandal: Nigeria mission under fire over alleged £70 backdoor charge, appointment slot sales in UK

An official at the Nigeria High Commission in the United Kingdom has accused the mission of allegedly extorting Nigerians through a £70 charge imposed during the September 2026 Special Passport Intervention Exercise.

According to SaharaReporters, the official, speaking anonymously, alleged that the High Commission exceeded an agreed daily capacity of 90 applicants by issuing appointments to nearly 300 people.

The source also claimed the additional £70 charge had no legitimate basis. However, the High Commission’s website lists the £70 payment as part of the intervention exercise, while charging £150 for lost or damaged passports.