Passport Intervention: FG Denies Imposing New Charges On Nigerians In UK

The Federal Government has denied introducing additional charges for Nigerians applying for international passports in the United Kingdom under the ongoing special passport intervention exercise.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the intervention was designed to provide Nigerians in the UK with additional options for processing their passport applications and was not intended to introduce new fees.

In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the minister said applicants were required to pay only the officially approved passport fees.

The fees are $150 for a five-year passport and $230 for a 10-year passport, excluding applicable bank charges.

Tunji-Ojo stressed that neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service had introduced any other charges beyond the approved fees.

The clarification followed complaints from Nigerians in the UK over difficulties and inconveniences associated with the intervention exercise, including reports of delays at some processing centres.

The special intervention exercise is being conducted by the Nigeria Immigration Service in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission to provide passport services closer to Nigerians in different parts of the United Kingdom.

The exercise is scheduled to run in London and Manchester from September 7 to 19, before moving to Aberdeen and Cardiff from September 21 to 26.

Applicants are being attended to for new passport applications, renewals and the resolution of pending applications.

The Nigeria Immigration Service has also reminded applicants that the intervention exercise does not replace its existing digital passport services. Applicants can continue to use the official online application channels, including the contactless biometric passport application system.

Tunji-Ojo said consultations were ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address challenges associated with the intervention and ensure that Nigerians seeking passport services do not continue to experience unnecessary inconvenience.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving passport services for Nigerians both at home and abroad.

He also encouraged eligible Nigerians in the United Kingdom to make use of the available passport-processing options and rely on official government channels for information on fees and application procedures.

The government’s clarification comes amid concerns generated by reports of additional payments being requested in connection with fast-track passport services in the UK.