The government of Nigeria has highlighted four (4) reasons for hiking the price of obtaining the Nigerian International Passport. According to a circular released by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the price hike was due to four major reasons,
Recall that we published an article that the NIS announced an increase in passport fees, raising the cost of a 32-page booklet with a 5-year validity from N35,000 to N50,000 and a 64-page booklet with a 10-year validity from N70,000 to N100,000.
This decision has sparked backlash from Nigerians, who are already facing economic difficulties, leading many citizens to criticize the government's move as insensitive. In response, the NIS released a circular explaining the reasons behind the fee hike.
Reasons For Hiking Nigerian Passport Price
In a statement released on Saturday, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) outlined four key reasons for the recent increase in the price of the Nigerian standard passport. First, the NIS emphasized the need to enhance the quality and standard of Nigerian passports, ensuring they continue to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
Secondly, the NIS highlighted the rising costs of materials and production as a significant factor in the price hike. The adjustment is seen as necessary to address the financial realities of producing passports with the required quality and security features.
Furthermore, the new fees will enable the NIS to expand its services by establishing more Passport front offices and biometrics centers. This expansion aims to increase access to their facilities, reduce congestion at existing centers, and improve the turnaround time for passport production.
Lastly, the fee increase will support the NIS's goal of fully domesticating the production of Nigerian passport booklets. This initiative aligns with President Tinubu's #RenewedHope Agenda, which seeks to promote local content and build capacity within the country.
The bottom line
Nigeria's passport system has seen notable improvements, particularly under the leadership of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Significant strides include clearing a backlog of over 200,000 pending passport applications by October 2023 and the introduction of home delivery of passports starting in June 2024. These efforts are part of the government's broader initiative to streamline passport issuance and enhance accessibility for Nigerians.
Despite these advancements, challenges persist. Applicants are experiencing errors when attempting to complete their passport registration on the NIS online portal - report says. Moreover, Nigeria's global passport ranking remains low, with the country ranked 95th on the 2024 Henley Passport Index, reflecting limited travel freedoms for Nigerian passport holders.
