SERAP Urges President Tinubu to Reverse "Arbitrary" Passport Fees

Strategic Insights -

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has written to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to direct the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap, to reverse the recent increase in passport fees. The NIS announced on September 1 that new fees of N100,000 for a 32-page, five-year validity passport and N200,000 for a 64-page, 10-year validity passport would be charged for applications made within Nigeria. SERAP argues that this increase amounts to a discriminatory denial of access to a passport for millions of socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians and unlawful restrictions of their citizenship rights.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced an increase in passport fees for applications made within Nigeria, with a 32-page, five-year validity passport now costing N100,000 and a 64-page, 10-year validity passport costing N200,000.
  • SERAP argues that the increased fees are "arbitrary," "unlawful," "unjustified," and "excessive," and amount to a discriminatory denial of access to a passport for millions of socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians.
  • The organization claims that the fees are incompatible with the provisions of chapters 2 and 4 of the Nigerian Constitution covering fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy and fundamental rights.
  • SERAP notes that the NIS increased passport fees in September 2024, and that the current increase is excessive and would hit hardest those at the bottom of the economy.
  • The organization argues that the Minister of Interior and the Comptroller General of the NIS acted unlawfully by increasing the passport fees, and have rendered nugatory Nigerians' fundamental rights by impermissibly and unlawfully increasing the fees.
  • SERAP requests that the fees be reversed within 7 days, and warns that if no action is taken, the organization will take all necessary legal actions to compel the government to comply.

Statistics:

  • N100,000: the new cost of a 32-page, five-year validity passport.
  • N200,000: the new cost of a 64-page, 10-year validity passport.
  • 32 pages: the standard booklet size for a five-year validity passport, now costing N100,000.
  • 64 pages: the standard booklet size for a 10-year validity passport, now costing N200,000.
  • September 1: the date on which the new passport fees came into effect.

Sources:

  • SERAP letter to President Bola Tinubu, dated 30 August 2025.
  • Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) press release, 28 August 2025.
  • Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended).
  • African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.