Just as Amina, juggling her taxi fare and school fees in Wuse Market, thought she could finally apply for a passport for her son, the announcement hit like a Monday morning storm. Two weeks ago, she saved ₦50,000 for the 32-page booklet. Today? That’s not enough.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), through its Public Relations Officer ACI AS Akinlabi, revealed that effective September 1, 2025, passport fees within Nigeria double overnight—the 32-page version climbs from ₦50,000 to ₦100,000, and the 64-page booklet jumps from ₦100,000 to ₦200,000. Meanwhile, Nigerians abroad remain untouched—still paying $150 and $230 respectively.
The Official Take-Away
The NIS insists the hike is not arbitrary. “In a bid to uphold quality and integrity… while ensuring passport services are accessible to all Nigerians,” the new rates were introduced to fund better service delivery.
But at a glance, shaping dreams into hard-cash obligations feels less accessible—particularly when the national minimum wage hovers around ₦70,000. For many, passport ownership now exceeds what they earn in a month.
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Consider Tunde, a university graduate who spent his savings on passport preparation. A ticket to an overseas scholarship once within reach now appears curved out of budget.
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The federal salary of ₦70,000 gives him pause—double that would leave rents unpaid, food baskets half-stuffed. For him and countless others, this isn’t reform—it’s exclusion.
Defenses, Reactions & Rumbling Voices
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo later defended the move, urging that faster delivery and anti-corruption are worth the price—“No more delays, no more bribes, passport in hand within one week,” he pledged.
“Before, some paid over ₦100k in bribes,” an aide later added, reframing the hike as redirecting illicit payments toward official channels.
But opposition voices argue the cost crushes the dreams of many. Former presidential candidate Peter Obi called it “insensitive,” stressing that the price now eclipses the monthly wage of an average worker.
The Toll Gate
Amina and Tunde aren’t anomalies—they’re tomorrow’s professionals, careers, and global Nigerians. For them, this feels like the stairway to opportunity was replaced with a toll gate.
Whether this hike translates to better service or deeper inequality depends not just on policy, but delivery—and the resilience of those still dreaming.
