The Federal Government has jacked up the issuance fees of Nigeria International Passport with the 32-page green passport now to be obtained at N100,000 while the 64-page version will be obtained by Nigerians intending to travel overseas at N200,000.
According to the information from the government, effective from Monday next week (September 1), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) will begin the implementation of the new passport fees.
The new fees apply to a 32-page passport with 5-year validity and the 64-page passport with 10-year validity.
According to the NIS, the increment in the passport fees aims to maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport.
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The Service stressed that the fee increase was necessary to cope with the rising production and issuance costs, ensuring the process remains sustainable while upholding security and quality standards demanded globally.
But then, the unexpected jack up of the passport fees has come as a big surprise to many Nigerians intending to travel abroad, especially millions of the unemployed youths seeking to explore opportunities for jobs in foreign countries.
A young unemployed graduate, who simply identified herself as Jennifer, told our correspondent on Thursday that “the increase in the passport fees is discouraging and demonstrates that the government is only interested in revenue without considering the negative impact of many of us, who are trying to go out there for jobs and join others outside that are now remitting money to the country.
“I know the Federal Government will not change its decision on the raising of the passport fees but it should try to consider the interest of millions of unemployed youths that are trying to travel and contribute to the development rather than becoming bandits or social nuisance in the country”, she added.
