By Muhammad Mamman
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned the Federal Government’s recent hike in passport fees, describing the move as arbitrary, unlawful, and discriminatory against millions of struggling Nigerians.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had announced that, from 1 September 2025, applications within the country would cost ₦100,000 for a 32-page passport valid for five years, and ₦200,000 for a 64-page passport valid for ten years. The announcement marks the second increase in less than a year, following a similar upward review in September 2024.
In a strongly worded letter dated 30 August 2025 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP warned that the decision effectively denies socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians access to passports, thereby restricting their constitutional and human rights.
“Millions of disadvantaged Nigerians cannot reasonably afford the new fees. Forcing them to divert their meagre incomes to pay for passports rather than basic necessities is both unjust and unlawful,” the organisation stated.
SERAP accused the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Comptroller General of the NIS, Kemi Nandap, of failing to strike a balance between revenue generation and citizens’ rights. It stressed that the arbitrary hike was incompatible with Chapters 2 and 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantee fundamental rights and state obligations, as well as international human rights treaties binding on Nigeria.
“The unreasonable and disproportionate increase in passport fees undermines citizens’ rights to effective enjoyment of their Nigerian nationality,” SERAP argued, warning that the move would further impoverish millions amid the country’s worsening economic crisis.
The organisation has given the Federal Government seven days to reverse the policy or face legal action.
