The Federal Government has approved a steep increase in the cost of international passports, a move that has immediately sparked nationwide debate. Effective September 1, 2025, the FG hikes Nigerian passport fees to ₦100K and ₦200K, effectively doubling the prices introduced just last year. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) confirmed the changes, clarifying that the new rates apply only to applications processed within Nigeria.
Under the revised policy, the standard 32-page passport with a five-year validity now costs ₦100,000, while the 64-page passport with a ten-year validity is priced at ₦200,000. For Nigerians applying through foreign missions, however, nothing has changed. They will continue to pay $150 for the 32-page passport and $230 for the 64-page option, underscoring that the adjustment is specific to domestic applicants.
Public reaction has been swift and intense. Many Nigerians took to social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), to criticize the timing of the hike. With inflation eroding purchasing power and wages largely stagnant, critics argue that the new rates will place essential travel documents out of reach for ordinary citizens. Some noted that academics, civil servants, and low-income earners may now find it nearly impossible to obtain passports, limiting their ability to pursue educational and professional opportunities abroad.
Government officials, on the other hand, have defended the decision. They argue that the adjustment is necessary to maintain efficient service delivery and preserve the “quality and integrity” of the Nigerian passport. According to the NIS, the higher fees will support the integration of advanced security features, improve production systems, and reduce processing times. Officials insist that the upgrade will help ensure Nigerian passports remain globally respected and resistant to fraud or counterfeiting.
Nonetheless, this marks the second significant price jump in less than a year. In 2024, the government raised the cost of the 32-page passport from around ₦35,000 to ₦50,000, and the 64-page passport from ₦70,000 to ₦100,000. Now, less than twelve months later, the fees have doubled again, fueling fears that continued increases could worsen financial pressures on already struggling households.
This disparity has reignited debates about fairness, accessibility, and whether the government’s pricing strategy reflects Nigeria’s economic reality. Comparisons with regional travel documents and visa costs have also surfaced, raising questions about how Nigeria intends to balance revenue generation with affordability for its citizens.
On a broader level, the development mirrors a global trend in which governments increasingly shift the costs of identity systems onto citizens. The growing demand for biometric passports and enhanced digital security features often requires higher production expenses. However, in Nigeria’s case, the sudden and sharp increments have intensified public discontent, highlighting the tension between modernization goals and the financial realities of everyday Nigerians.
In the end, while officials frame the new fees as necessary for sustainability and security, many citizens perceive the hike as yet another setback during an already difficult economic period. The debate underscores the widening gap between national policy decisions and the lived experiences of ordinary people, as the FG raises Nigerian passport fees to ₦100K and ₦200K nationwide.
