The Federal Government has provided justifications for the recent increase in fees for Nigerian international passports, attributing the hike to several key considerations.
The new fees, set to take effect from September 1, 2024, will see the cost of a 32-page passport booklet with a five-year validity rise from N35,000 to N50,000, while the fee for a 64-page passport booklet with a ten-year validity will increase from N70,000 to N100,000.
In a statement released by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) on Saturday, the agency outlined four primary reasons behind the price adjustment.
Firstly, the NIS cited the need to improve the standard and quality of the passport to ensure it continues to meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
The agency stated, “4 Reasons for the increase in the price of the Nigerian standard passport:
“Improvement in Passport standard and quality, ensuring that the Nigerian Passport continues to maintain the ICAO Standard.
“To address the cost of materials and production given current realities.
“With the new fees, the NIS will create more Passport front offices and biometrics centres, thereby increasing access to our facilities, decongesting the already existing centres and improving Passport production turnaround time.”
NIS added, “The recent increase in Passport fees would also help the Service actualise its drive for the complete domestication of Nigeria Passport booklets.
“This is in furtherance of the #RenewedHope Agenda of Tinubu to build local content.”
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