Former Nigerian ambassadors are concerned that the recent increase in the fees for Nigerian passports may not deter people from seeking better opportunities abroad but rather exacerbate the challenges faced by the populace.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has announced a 100% price hike for passports starting September 1, 2024, to enhance the quality and security of the Nigerian Standard Passport system.
Under the new fee structure, a 32-page passport valid for five years, previously priced at N35,000, will now cost N50,000, while a 64-page passport with a 10-year validity period, previously N70,000, will now be N100,000.
Expressing their viewpoints, a former ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, acknowledged the necessity of the increment due to rising inflation but cautioned that it might intensify hardships for the citizens.
According to Farounbi, “The cost of living has surged across all sectors in the past year. Unfortunately, the brunt of this increase falls on the less privileged. Instead of alleviating the burdens on the common man, raising passport fees by almost 100% will not dissuade those determined to leave, as their motivations are driven by factors surpassing passport costs.”
Similarly, a former Nigeria Consul to Cameroon, Rasheed Akinkuolie, emphasized that the government should prioritize addressing issues like insecurity and soaring inflation rates impacting commodity prices, rather than focusing on raising passport fees.