Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly criticized the Federal Government’s recent decision to increase Nigerian international passport application fees, describing it as “alarming” and a “burden on the populace”.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) announced the new pricing structure on Thursday, which will see passport application fees hike to ₦100,000 for a 32-page booklet and ₦200,000 for a 64-page version, effective September 1, 2025.
Obi argued that this move is the third fee hike in just two years and demonstrates the administration’s “disconnect with the people”.
He also pointed out that the cost of a passport now exceeds the newly approved minimum wage of ₦70,000, a situation he described as unprecedented globally. “Instead of making life easier, this government keeps shifting the burden onto ordinary Nigerians,” Obi stated. The NIS claims the review aims to maintain the quality and integrity of the passport.
