365NEWS gathered that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has outlined the reasons for the increase in passport fees, effective September 1, 2024.
Recall that the fee hike has elicited varied responses on social media.
In a statement posted on the NIS’s official X account, the Public Relations Unit detailed the rationale behind the increase.
The key reasons include enhancing passport quality, managing production costs, improving service delivery, and supporting the government’s local content policy.
The NIS listed the following four major reasons for the fee adjustment:
1. Improvement in Passport Standard and Quality: To ensure that the Nigerian Passport continues to meet ICAO standards.
2. Addressing Production Costs: To cover the rising costs of materials and production.
3. Expansion of Facilities: The new fees will facilitate the establishment of additional passport front offices and biometrics centers, reducing congestion at existing centers and improving processing times.
4. Domestication of Passport Production: To support the complete localization of Nigerian passport booklet production.
The NIS also encouraged applicants to use the automated payment platform available on its official website for a smoother application process.
