Olusegun Adeyemo
A cross section of Nigerians has expressed mixed reactions to the Federal Government’s decision to increase the fees for international passports, a development set to take effect on Monday.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by the spokesman of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Akinsola Akinlabi, who confirmed that the new charges would apply to both fresh applications and renewals.
Under the new arrangement, a five-year passport now costs ₦100,000, while the 10-year validity passport is pegged at ₦200,000.
Speaking with The Journal Nigeria in separate interviews, citizens shared divergent views on the policy.
Moses Johnson criticized the increase, describing it as another example of “mismanagement and excessive taxation” by leaders who should be using their knowledge to create opportunities instead of “deepening hardship.”
For Sam Atuegbu, the development is a deliberate attempt to discourage Nigerians from leaving the country. He argued that with the high cost of living, a civil servant would now need to save for months before affording a passport.
While some condemned the hike, others saw merit in it. Calm Martinez welcomed the decision, insisting that “₦100,000 for five years and ₦200,000 for ten years is fair,” adding that the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for the country.
However, many others disagreed. Godai Jnr said the government was making “japa” (emigration) more difficult, while Nnaemeka Vincent Chukwu described the move as “crazy,” accusing the administration of excessive revenue drive.
Joe Best also faulted the Ministry of Interior, alleging poor service delivery at immigration offices despite high fees, citing issues such as long queues, extortion, and poor internet services.
Similarly, Sosa Mathew David and Chi Sylvia argued that the official prices differ from what Nigerians pay at passport offices due to hidden charges, with costs rising as high as ₦250,000 to ₦300,000 in some locations.
Amaobi Amy called the policy “wicked and clueless,” noting that while the government demands price cuts from businesses, it keeps raising its own charges.
Another respondent, Simeon Oluwadara, questioned the justification for the increment, saying, “There’s no change in the look or content of the passport to warrant doubling the price”.