Nigerians have reacted with shock to the latest increase in international passport fees, with Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, openly criticizing the Federal Government for what he described as “a legendary obsession with burdening citizens.”
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Thursday, August 28, announced that the 32-page Nigerian passport will now cost ₦100,000, while the 64-page booklet will be issued at ₦200,000.
This represents the third increment in just two years. Reacting through his social media handle late Thursday night, Obi expressed concern that the hike was yet another sign that the current administration was disconnected from the realities of Nigerians.
“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,” Obi stated.
He went further to question how workers on Nigeria’s newly approved minimum wage of ₦70,000 could afford a passport that now costs more than their monthly income.
“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,” Obi lamented.
The new pricing has sparked debate across social media, where many Nigerians echoed similar frustrations.
For students, business owners, and workers seeking travel opportunities abroad, the increase is seen as a huge barrier at a time when many already struggle with high inflation and rising costs of living.
Moreover, critics argue that such a sharp increase is poorly timed, considering the economic hardship many households are facing.
While the government has justified previous increments by citing rising production costs and the need for improved security features, Obi insists that such justifications fail to consider the realities of ordinary Nigerians.
“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,” he said.
However, no official response has been issued by the Ministry of Interior or the Immigration Service as of the time of this report.
