On September 1, 2025, the Nigerian government, through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), implemented a sharp increase in passport application fees within the country. The price for a 32-page international passport with a five-year validity doubled from ₦50,000 to ₦100,000, while the 64-page passport with ten-year validity saw its fee rise from ₦100,000 to ₦200,000. This marks the third major fee increase over two years and has sparked widespread public outcry, particularly from civil society organizations such as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
SERAP has condemned the hike as an infringement of fundamental human rights, arguing that it disproportionately affects millions of economically disadvantaged Nigerians and restricts their ability to access essential citizenship documents. This analysis examines the details of the fee hike, the stances and statements of key stakeholders, constitutional and human rights implications, and the broader socio-economic and political context of this contentious policy.
Details and Justifications of the Passport Fee Increase
The Nigerian Immigration Service announced via its Public Relations Officer, ACI AS Akinlabi, that from September 1, 2025, applications for international passports submitted within Nigeria would attract the new fees of ₦100,000 for the 32-page, five-year passport and ₦200,000 for the 64-page, ten-year passport. This adjustment represents a 100% increase in fees for passport applicants in Nigeria compared to the fees implemented in September 2024, which were already significantly higher than those prior to that date.
The NIS clarified that this new fee schedule applies only to applications within Nigeria; Nigerians living abroad (diaspora) continue to pay the set fees of $150 for the 32-page passport and $230 for the 64-page passport. The government’s stated rationale for the increase centers on the need to “maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian passport” while enhancing service delivery efficiency and combating corruption within the passport issuance system.
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo supports this position, emphasizing ongoing reforms aimed at reducing passport processing times to as short as one week, primarily achieved through digitization and operational improvements.
Stakeholder Perspectives and Public Reaction
The fee increase has drawn sharply contrasting responses from government officials, civil society actors, and the Nigerian public.
SERAP’s Strong Criticism
The most vociferous opposition comes from SERAP. Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s Deputy Director, has condemned the hike in unequivocal terms: “The unlawfully high fees amount to a discriminatory denial of access to a passport to millions of socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians and unlawful restrictions of their other citizenship rights.” SERAP argues that passports are not mere travel documents but essential identity instruments integral to the exercise of fundamental rights guaranteed under Nigeria’s constitution, including freedom of movement and access to opportunities in education, employment, and family reunification abroad.
SERAP has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and order an immediate reversal of the fee increase, warning that failure to comply within seven days may lead to legal challenges alleging violations of constitutional human rights provisions. The concern is that these elevated fees effectively exclude a vast swathe of Nigerians from accessing passports, worsening social inequalities in a country grappling with profound economic hardships.
Government and Immigration Service Defense
Conversely, the government and the Nigeria Immigration Service maintain the necessity and legitimacy of the increment. The NIS spokesperson explained, “The review which only affects passport application fees made in Nigeria is necessary to sustain quality, curb corruption, and ensure timely delivery of travel documents.” This statement reflects the government’s prioritization of document integrity and efforts to counter fraud and inefficiencies long criticized in the passport issuance process.
Minister Tunji-Ojo has highlighted the passport reform agenda, stressing that significant strides have been made in tackling the backlog of passport applications and improving process efficiency. He declared, “We are aiming for one week processing time to ensure quality service.” The fee increase is presented as an investment into sustaining these improvements in service quality and security.
Public Outcry and Political Opposition
The public reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, especially among low- and middle-income Nigerians. Many view the fee increase as an additional socio-economic burden in the context of rising inflation, unemployment, and a high cost of living. Prominent opposition voices, including former presidential candidate Peter Obi, have criticized the government’s insensitivity to ordinary Nigerians’ plight.
Obi declared, “This fee hike is an added burden on an already strained populace and surpasses the national minimum wage of ₦70,000.” He described the fee increase as “an extraordinary hardship” and called for an immediate policy review.
Social media platforms and public forums have echoed these sentiments, with many describing the passport as becoming a privilege for the wealthy rather than a basic right for all citizens.
Constitutional and Human Rights Implications
SERAP’s arguments extend into a constitutional critique of the fee hike, grounded in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. They point to:
- The Directive Principles of State Policy (Chapter 2), which demand government policies promote social justice, equity, and economic welfare.
- Fundamental human rights protections (Chapter 4), including the right to freedom of movement within and outside Nigeria.
By sharply increasing passport fees beyond affordability for many, the government is seen to be violating these constitutional mandates by creating arbitrary barriers that diminish citizens’ rights. The fees effectively deny many Nigerians access to passports, restricting their ability to travel internationally, pursue education or work abroad, and participate fully in the rights of citizenship.
Economically, this fee increase is a form of indirect discrimination that disproportionately impacts rural dwellers, those in informal sectors, young people, and those already marginalized economically.
Broader Social and Political Context
The controversy surrounding the passport fee hike is emblematic of broader governance and policy tensions in Nigeria. The government faces fiscal pressures and a need to modernize and secure vital institutions like the Immigration Service amid rising fraud and inefficiency. The reforms, including digitization of processes and ambitions for rapid processing times, suggest positive service delivery improvements.
However, the sharp fee increases reflect the challenge of balancing service quality and financial sustainability with social equity and inclusion. This fee hike comes amid a cost-of-living crisis where millions of Nigerians struggle to afford basic necessities.. By imposing such high fees, the government risks further alienating the citizenry and igniting discontent.
The discrepancy in fees for applicants inside Nigeria versus the diaspora further fuels perceptions of inequality and raises questions about fairness, as many Nigerians may lack access to foreign currency or diaspora privileges.
The debate raises important questions about citizen-state relations, governance, and the social contract, highlighting the need for transparent policy-making that considers vulnerable groups and leverages phased approaches to reform.
Nigeria’s 2025 passport fee increase is a flashpoint in the country’s ongoing struggle to balance effective governance, service delivery, and citizens’ fundamental rights. While the government justifies the hike as necessary to combat corruption and improve processing times, organizations like SERAP view it as an unjust and unconstitutional economic barrier that excludes millions from exercising their rights.
The sharp opposition from civil society, political actors, and the public underscores the policy’s socio-economic sensitivity. It highlights the need for policymakers to revisit the fees with empathy and inclusivity while sustaining passport quality and service efficiency.
Going forward, adopting a phased increase, targeted subsidies, or waivers for vulnerable populations, coupled with continued modernization efforts, may strike a better balance between reform and equitable access.
