Real reason Nigeria increased international passport fees by 45% – Tunji-Ojo

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The foreign exchange rate between the Naira and the dollar is to blame for the 45 percent increase in international passport fees, according to Minister of the Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

This was revealed by Tunji-Ojo on Friday during an Abuja media conference.

He asserts that the government is unable to cover Nigerian citizens’ passport costs.

The hike, he continued, had little impact on Nigerians living outside.

Tunji-Ojo said, “The increase in passport fees is a matter of cost-benefit analysis, especially when you consider the exchange rate between the dollar and the naira. If the government were to subsidize anything, I don’t think it should be passports.

“The increase is just from N35,000 to N50,000 — only about 45 percent. There has been no increase in Nigerians abroad.”

His explanation coincides with the August 2024 announcement by the Nigerian Immigration Service of an increase in the cost of the Nigerian Standard Passport.

A 32-page passport booklet with a five-year validity, formerly priced at N35,000, is now just N50,000, and a 64-page passport booklet with a ten-year validity, previously priced at N70,000, is now N100,000. This is in accordance with the fee new revision.

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