(DDM) – The Federal Government has defended the 100% increase in Nigerian international passport fees, describing it as necessary to curb corruption, improve service delivery, and ensure the production of high-quality travel documents.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the announcement was made by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, ACI AS Akinlabi.
New passport fees
The NIS stated that, effective September 1, 2025, passport applications within Nigeria will now cost N100,000 for a 32-page passport with five-year validity.
A 64-page passport with ten-year validity will cost N200,000.
The agency clarified that these new fees apply only to applications made within Nigeria, while fees for Nigerians living abroad remain unchanged at $150 and $230 for 32-page and 64-page passports, respectively.
Background on previous increases
The federal government had earlier raised passport fees in August 2024, increasing the cost of the 32-page passport from N35,000 to N50,000, and the 64-page version from N70,000 to N100,000.
Minister defends the hike
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, explained that the increment is part of ongoing reforms aimed at eliminating delays, reducing human interference, and restoring public confidence in the issuance process.
“Our target is very clear: within one week of enrolment, every Nigerian should have their passport in hand,” he said during the Ministry’s mid-term performance retreat in Abuja.
He added, “Not just delivering quickly, but delivering quality passports that reflect our integrity as a nation.”
Tackling past inefficiencies
According to Tunji-Ojo, passport issuance had long been plagued by backlogs, extortion, and systemic inefficiencies.
He recalled personal experience with the delays, noting that even his daughter faced excessive costs and long waits to obtain her passport.
“Nigerians used to apply for passports and wait endlessly or be asked to pay hundreds of thousands of naira,” he said.
He added, “While I was chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, I had to pay hundreds of thousands just to get a passport for my 12-year-old daughter. That era is over.”
Aim of reforms
The minister emphasized that the fee increase is designed to support a more transparent, efficient, and accountable passport issuance system.
He assured Nigerians that the new system will make passports accessible within a week while maintaining high-quality production standards.
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