President Bola Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has defended the Nigerian Immigration Service’s (NIS) controversial increase in passport application fees, describing the hike as a measure to curb corruption within the agency.
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On Thursday, August 28, the NIS announced that from September 1, 2025, a 32-page passport with a five-year validity will cost ₦100,000, while a 64-page passport valid for ten years will be priced at ₦200,000. The revised fees apply only to applications made within Nigeria; passports obtained abroad will remain at $150 and $230, respectively. The agency explained that the upward review was necessary to “uphold the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Passport.”
The increase has drawn sharp criticism from Nigerians, who called Ajayi’s defense irresponsible and questioned why the government is not addressing corruption directly instead of raising fees. Many asked why the NIS has not implemented stricter measures to track officers engaged in bribery, arguing that citizens should not bear the cost of systemic corruption.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi also criticized the hike, describing it as “an added burden on the populace,” noting that the cost of a 32-page passport now exceeds the country’s new minimum wage of ₦70,000. Obi added that this marks the third increase in just two years and highlighted the administration’s disconnect from citizens’ economic realities.
In defense, Temitope Ajayi argued that many Nigerians have historically paid more than ₦100,000 and ₦200,000 through unofficial channels to expedite passport processing. He emphasized that the new official fees ensure that the money goes into government coffers rather than private pockets.
Ajayi stated on X and Facebook:
“Nigerians have always paid more than N100k and N200k to get the five-year and 10-year valid travel passports, in bribes, to Immigration officers to get their passports out on time. The difference now is: the money will go into government coffers for same express service instead of private pockets.”
The presidential aide argued that complaints are unreasonable, suggesting that citizens themselves have contributed to the system of corruption.
The announcement has reignited debates over Nigeria’s economic hardship and governance, with critics emphasizing the need for proactive tracking and accountability of corrupt officers rather than shifting the burden onto citizens.
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