Ogona Anita
Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the Federal Government’s decision to double international passport fees, describing it as “cruel, insensitive, and completely out of touch with the suffering masses
E-Passports
Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the Federal Government’s decision to double international passport fees, describing it as “cruel, insensitive, and completely out of touch with the suffering masses.
Effective September 1, 2025, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) will increase the 32-page passport (5-year validity) to ₦100,000 and the 64-page passport (10-year validity) to ₦200,000. This marks the third hike in just two years.
Obi, in a statement on Thursday via his X account, blasted the policy, warning that it places an unbearable burden on ordinary Nigerians.
“The obsession of this administration with putting a burden on the populace is becoming legendary and continues to reveal its apparent disconnect with the people and the suffering,” he said.
He noted with shock that the new fee structure is higher than Nigeria’s minimum wage of ₦70,000, saying:
In a country where the new minimum wage is only ₦70,000, the cost of a single passport now exceeds a worker’s monthly salary — probably the only country in the world to achieve this feat.”
The Anambra-born politician accused the government of prioritizing revenue over citizens’ welfare.
“Instead of making life easier, this government keeps shifting the burden onto ordinary Nigerians. It is alarming that the price of an international passport is now higher than what workers earn in a month,” Obi added.
NIS POSITION
The NIS defended the increment, saying it was necessary to preserve the integrity and quality of the passports. Fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged at $150 for the 32-page passport and $230 for the 64-page version.
The hike follows last year’s adjustment in August 2024, when the 32-page passport rose from ₦35,000 to ₦50,000 and the 64-page booklet from ₦70,000 to ₦100,000.
Public outrage has continued to trail the announcement, with many Nigerians describing the development as “anti-people” and “unconscionable.”
