Tunji-Ojo Reveals Sh*cking Reason Behind Increased Passport Fees: ‘It Was For My Daughter

The Federal Government has explained that the recent increase in Nigerian passport fees to ₦100,000 for the 32-page passport and ₦200,000 for the 64-page passport is aimed at ensuring timely delivery and eradicating corruption.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), through its Public Relations Officer ACI AS Akinlabi, announced that the new fees will take effect from September 1, 2025, for applications submitted within Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said the reforms were designed to eliminate long delays and end the extortion practices that previously forced citizens to wait up to seven months or pay exorbitant amounts to fast-track passport processing.

“Our goal is simple: within one week of enrolment, every Nigerian should have their passport in hand,” he said. Tunji-Ojo added that the old system caused unnecessary delays, recalling that even his daughter had to pay hundreds of thousands of naira to obtain a passport at age 12.

The minister revealed that the newly established centralised personalisation centre—the largest in Africa—will accelerate processing and improve security.

“With this facility, we can print five times more passports than required, and vetting now takes no more than 24 hours. Passport Control Officers will no longer have the power to approve or delay applications, ending previous abuses,” he said. Tunji-Ojo affirmed that centralising the approval process would curb corruption and restore credibility to Nigeria’s travel documents.