Social media users have expressed frustration over the recent increase in fees for Nigerian Standard Passports. The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), announced the fee hike, stating that the adjustment was necessary to maintain the quality and integrity of the passport.
Starting September 1, 2024, a 32-page passport booklet with a five-year validity will now cost N50,000, up from N35,000. Meanwhile, the 64-page booklet with a 10-year validity will cost N100,000, an increase from the previous N70,000 fee.
The fee hike has sparked widespread concern on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, with many Nigerians criticizing the timing and the impact on citizens already struggling with economic hardships. Social media users pointed out issues such as corruption among NIS officials, inflation, and the government's perceived insensitivity to the plight of ordinary citizens.
One user on X, posting as #Lexyzdoo, highlighted the discrepancy between online and offline application fees, stating, “Online 50k, offline 100k for 32 pages.”
On Facebook, Taiwo Olaoye criticized the system, saying, “Without the hiked-up fees, you still have to pay an arm and a leg as bribery for them to do their jobs. That’s why my passport will forever remain expired. It will end up being expired in five years anyway.”
hat kind of rubbish is this policy? In this economy with a 70k minimum wage, a passport will now cost 50,000! This is a very deliberate policy that shows some elites in power truly must be living in a different reality!”
Some users suggested delaying the effective date of the new fees to January 2025, arguing that the government's quick implementation of the price hike reflects a lack of empathy towards its citizens.
The Henley Passport Index, which ranks global passports based on their travel freedom, places the Nigerian passport at 92nd out of 199, emphasizing the challenges Nigerian citizens face when traveling internationally. The new fee increase has only added to the public's frustration and concerns about the government's priorities during a difficult economic period.
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