‘Pity Nigerians,’ reactions trail FG’s 100% passport fee hike

Nigerians have taken to social media to express outrage, frustration, and in some cases support, following the Federal Government’s decision to increase Nigerian Standard Passport fees by 100 per cent, effective September 1, 2025.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, ACI AS Akinlabi, said the adjustment was necessary to “uphold the quality and integrity of the Nigerian passport.” U

Under the new rates, a 32-page passport with five-year validity will cost ₦100,000, while the 64-page passport with 10-year validity will go for ₦200,000.

Fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged at $150 and $230, respectively.

The announcement, which comes less than a year after a similar review in September 2024, quickly stirred heated debate online.

On X (formerly Twitter), @Cpthemonarch wrote: “Was it not last year you increased the price… This year you increased again… Make una try pity una fellow Nigerians abeg… Hikes everywhere, if taxes are not being increased and new ones introduced, there will hikes in existing fees… Meanwhile, the economy is bad.”

Others, however, argued that the hike was justifiable. @Darpor__ tweeted: “The value of a nation is reflected in the strength of its PASSPORT. Paying a little more for a document that carries our identity with pride and global respect is a price worth it. This is literally the only government document that comes easy to get.”

But many questioned the logic behind the increase. @strive2exzel asked: “How does increasing the price affect the integrity of the passport? Just making lives unbearable for the masses.”

Similarly, @beefylegz noted: “Instead of focusing on improving the standard of the Nigerian passport, you guy decided to increase the price. The Nigeria passport is weak & useless af, people are ditching it for other passports yet you guys chose this? Misplaced priorities is all I see.”

For @OsinbajoCares, the new fees should translate to better services: “Okay! But the upward review should translate to more resolve of arising passport complaints so Nigerians can be on the same page with the institutions.”

Concerned about affordability, @JimohRapport remarked: “So, a minimum wage earner will have to save up how many months of their salary to get a passport? Una wicked oh!”

Still, some defended the review. @Terrykom3 said: “Maintenance and regular upgrades are required for technological solutions, so it’s not bad for a review of the price as well.”

Others strongly disagreed. @Tiwa_Specials described it as: “Highly unfair and unfortunate.”

@Horiyourme supported the government’s stance: “Only make sense to review the price, we understand the material being used for the passport has become expensive. It’ll be unreasonable of us to expect the government to bare the cost of the increase. After all, it is not government that want to use the passport.”

But @EtitiIfeanyi raised questions about oversight: “What is the national assembly doing about all this price increments? Every agency increases price without getting approval from the national assembly because why should our passport be more expensive than our minimum wage?”

For others, the decision epitomises hardship under the current administration. @Omas57165980 wrote:
“This Renewed hope in the APC regime have been serious pain to the masses. This administration have been making life difficult for the masses and also widen the gap between the rich and the poor.”

In the same vein, @Mdb27384231 said:“What’s really going on in Nigeria the manner at which this government is increasing everything is alarming.”

@KeansoLala echoed: “It’s never going to be a deduction but increase, always quick to increase prices in everything.”

Mocking the timing, @pioneerjoshua8 tweeted: “Effective 1st of September. Have you all ever done anything that will benefit the masses and tagged it ‘Effective 1st of September’? No! It’s always squeezing the already squeezed and surviving Nigerians. Renewed hopelessness!”

In a sarcastic jab, @S_Abdul06 added: “Try and make it N500k pls… So that we can start selling our homes to get a passport.”

While the NIS insists the fee hike is to sustain quality and service delivery, for many Nigerians, the move has reignited a familiar debate, whether the passport’s value justifies its rising cost amid worsening economic hardship.

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