Nigerians React To Increase In Passport Fees

Scores of Nigerians on social media have reacted to the recently increased fees for Nigeria International Passport.

Osun Defender had earlier reported that the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Immigration Service on Wednesday, announced the upward review of the passport fees was necessary to maintain its quality and integrity.

The increased fee, effective from September 1, 2024, will cost  N50,000 for a 32-page passport booklet with five-year validity which was previously charged at N35,000.

Also, a 64-page passport booklet with 10-year validity will cost N100,000; an increment of N30,000 from its previous N70,000 charge.

Reactions

Taking to X to express their dissatisfaction with the development, some Nigerians described the increase as unnecessary, arguing that it comes at a time of economic hardship.

An X user, @Enwagboso tweeted, “The 10-day notice for the passport price increase is an example of the government’s lack of empathy and consideration for its citizens. @officialABAT and @nigimmigration should obviously know this. I recommend reviewing the pricing strategy and considering a reversal or, at the very least, a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.”

“@nigimmigration The hike in the price if the Nigerian passport is unnecessary,  you guys just wake up one morning and decide to make things harder for an average Nigerian. Show us the breakdown of how much is used to produce one passport, let’s start from there.” @AareAAdeleke opined.

@Amin_Snoussi said in parts, “You’re increasing the cost of obtaining international passports at a time when citizens are barely able to afford 2 square meals on a daily?”

Another user, @Lidocaine_v2 wrote, “Why not use the billions the Customs is generating for this? Have we not suffered enough?”

“Nothing no dey increase for this country…Na only living standard dey reduce.” @Twitdakoru reacted.

In his reaction, @Jaiyejejeomo claimed that the actual price of getting a passport is even higher than the newly  announced fee.

He wrote, “This is “on the paper” price. It’s a different ball game when you get to immigration office. They will tell you 180-230 for 64 pages. And if you’re going to fast-track it, you will pay extra 30k + 10k for documentation.”

On X.com, Callme_Wéalth EndSars, tweeting as #Lexyzdoo, wrote, “Online 50k, offline 100k for 32 pages.”

A Facebook user, Taiwo Olaoye, stated, “Without the hiked-up fees, you still have to pay an arm and a leg as bribery for them to do their jobs. That’s why my passport will forever remain expired. It will end up being expired in five years anyway.”

A tweep, Asiwaju Arowopoko, tweeting as #souqueasnaf, stated, “I can bet that some people paid more to get their passports done expressly. If it’s 50k and 100k for 32 and 64 pages respectively, and we will get it done seamlessly without paying a bribe or extra cost, then it’s ok.”

One Shedrach Onyekonwu on Facebook, criticised the fewer number of days to implement the passport fee review, compared to that of the national minimum wage, saying, “It takes just a publication of this nature to announce an upward review of fees to be implemented in 10 days but takes endless meetings to sign new minimum wage with no date in sight for its implementation.”

Another tweep, CitizenOlu, tweeting as #jagabanolu, wrote, “What kind of rubbish is this policy? In this economy with a 70k minimum wage, a passport will now cost 50,000! This is a very deliberate policy that shows some elites in power truly must be living in a different reality!”

An X user, Adewale ‘Damilare, tweeting as #dammygtnet, said, “Una dun increase money for passport issuance again. You guys are testing our patience!”

Another tweep, Hemjay of Life, with the username #MuritalaMujeebA, tweeted, “And it is not as if your useless officers will not still collect bribe at point of biometrics oo.”

An X user, E.J, tweeting as #Enwagboso, asked the FG to delay the effective date of the new passport fees to 2025.
He wrote, “The 10-day notice for the passport price increase is an example of the government’s lack of empathy and consideration for its citizens. #officialABAT and #nigimmigration should know this. I recommend reviewing the pricing strategy and considering a reversal or, at the very least, a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.”

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A Facebook user, Celestine Uzodike wrote, “Every agency is in a hurry to extort the masses at this crucial period. Very insensitive Govt.”

Another Facebook user, Emecheta David, queried, “So to maintain the integrity of the passport, you’ll increase the price? Which integrity does the Nigerian passport possess that you are maintaining?”

An Instagram user, #l_ayk_an, wrote, “Making japa expensive but yet making Nigeria worse and unlivable.”

Another user, identified as #officialcollinzo, said, “Very soon to breath for this Nigeria go be 1k per 1hr.”

According to the Henley Passport Index, the Nigerian passport was ranked 92nd out of 199 passports, highlighting the challenges its citizens face regarding international travel freedom.