The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced an increase in the fees for Nigerian passports, starting from September 1, 2024.
This change was made public by Kenneth Udo, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), through a statement shared on their official X account.
The reason for the fee hike is to ensure that the quality and integrity of the Nigerian passport are maintained.
According to the new fees, the cost for a 32-page passport booklet with a five-year validity will rise from N35,000 to N50,000.
Additionally, the 64-page passport booklet, which has a ten-year validity, will increase from N70,000 to N100,000.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has expressed regret over any inconvenience this may cause for those applying for a passport.
However, they assure Nigerians that they remain committed to providing transparent and high-quality services.
“While the Nigeria Immigration Service regrets any inconvenience this increase might cause prospective applicants, it assures Nigerians of unwavering commitment to transparency and quality service delivery at all times,” said Kenneth Udo.
This price increase comes just two weeks after the Nigerian passport was ranked 92nd out of 199 countries on the Henley Passport Index.
This ranking shows that Nigerian passport holders face significant challenges when it comes to international travel freedom.
The Henley Passport Index ranks countries based on the number of destinations their citizens can visit without needing a visa beforehand.
Nigeria’s low ranking highlights the difficulties its citizens face compared to other nations.
A former Nigerian Ambassador to Singapore, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, pointed out that the low ranking is linked to issues such as asylum seeking and involvement in criminal activities like human and drug trafficking by some Nigerian citizens. He emphasized the need for Nigeria to address these problems.
