PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has criticised the recent increase in international passport application fees, saying it was yet another burden imposed on struggling Nigerians by the Federal Government.
Obi, in a statement on X on Friday, August 29, faulted the decision, calling it insensitive in light of the current economic hardship, adding: “The obsession of this administration with putting a burden on the populace is becoming legendary and continues to reveal its apparent disconnect with the people and the suffering.”
He also stated that the cost of a passport now exceeds the new minimum wage of ₦70,000, a situation he said is unprecedented globally, making Nigeria probably the only country in the world to achieve this feat.
According to him: “The International Passport fees in Nigeria have now skyrocketed to ₦100,000 for a 32-page booklet and ₦200,000 for 64 pages. This is the third increase in just two years.
“In a country where the new minimum wage is only ₦70,000, the cost of a single passport now exceeds a worker’s monthly salary, probably the only country in the world to achieve this feat.
“Instead of making life easier, this government keeps shifting the burden onto ordinary Nigerians. It is alarming that the price of the international passport is higher than what workers earn in a month.”
Recall that the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Thursday, August 28, announced that with effect from September 1, this year, a 32-page passport with five-year validity will cost ₦100,000, while a 64-page passport with 10-year validity will cost ₦200,000 for applications made within Nigeria, while fees for Nigerians abroad remain at $150 and $230, respectively.
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