Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, on Friday justified the increase in passport fees, stating that the rise was only about 45 percent.
According to him, the increase was caused by the dollar-naira exchange rate.
In August, the Nigerian Immigration Service announced an increase in the Nigerian Standard Passport fees.
According to the latest review, a 32-page passport booklet with five-year validity, which was previously charged at N35,000, is now N50,000, and a 64-page passport booklet with ten-year validity, which was N70,000, is now N100,000.
Many Nigerians are disappointed with the raised rates, accusing the government of making japan more expensive.
However, during a media conference in Abuja to commemorate his first year in office, the minister stated that the government cannot support Nigerian passport fees.
He also stated that the price increase did not effect passport fees for Nigerians living outside of the nation.
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 subsidise anything, I don’t think it should be passports. The increase is just from N35,000 to N50,000—oonly about 45 percent. There has been no increase for Nigerians abroad.”
