By Peter Omopo
August 31, 2025
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned the Federal Government’s recent increase in passport fees, describing the move as arbitrary, unlawful, and discriminatory against poor Nigerians.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had announced that, effective September 1, 2025, applicants would pay ₦100,000 for a 32-page, five-year validity passport and ₦200,000 for a 64-page, 10-year validity passport. The announcement marks the second upward review in less than a year, following a similar hike in September 2024.
In a letter dated August 30, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP argued that the new fees would deny millions of disadvantaged citizens access to passports.
“Millions of socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians cannot realistically afford to pay the increased fees. These Nigerians should not be forced to spend their limited income on passports instead of basic living needs,” the group stated.
The organisation also accused the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Comptroller General of the NIS, Kemi Nandap, of failing to strike a balance between revenue generation and citizens’ rights.
“The unreasonable and disproportionate increase in passport fees is incompatible with chapters 2 and 4 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantee fundamental objectives of state policy and fundamental rights,” SERAP said.
It further warned that the fee hike, coming amid economic hardship, would deepen poverty and restrict the effective enjoyment of citizenship rights guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and international human rights treaties.
SERAP gave the Federal Government seven days to reverse the decision or face legal action.
