The Federal Government has denied introducing additional charges for Nigerians applying for international passports in the United Kingdom under its ongoing special passport intervention exercise.
The clarification followed complaints from applicants over delays and difficulties experienced at some intervention centres, including the facility in Manchester.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, expressed concern over the reported challenges and assured Nigerians that measures were being taken to improve the process.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the minister said the intervention was designed to provide Nigerians in the UK with additional options for processing their passport applications.
The ministry clarified that applicants are required to pay only the approved fees of $150 for a five-year passport and $230 for a 10-year passport, excluding applicable bank charges.
“It is therefore necessary to clarify that this process does not come with extra costs different from the official fees of $150 and $230 for five-year and ten-year validity passports respectively, exclusive of bank charges,” the statement said.
“Neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service has introduced any other charges outside the aforementioned.”
Tunji-Ojo added that consultations were ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the difficulties encountered by applicants and prevent further disruptions.
“Consultations are ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that any inconveniences during this process do not persist any longer,” he said.
The minister also encouraged applicants to utilise the contactless biometric passport application system, describing it as a seamless alternative for processing passport applications.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving services for Nigerians both within the country and abroad.
“This government has demonstrated a high level of responsibility to Nigerians at home and abroad, and remains committed to its promises of providing succour to all,” he said.
The government’s clarification came after a social media complaint by Oluomo of Derby, who criticised the experience of applicants at the Passport Intervention Centre in Manchester.
Writing on X on Monday, Oluomo said applicants who arrived early at the centre were left waiting for hours without receiving attention.
“It is now 11:30 a.m., and people who arrived as early as 9:00 a.m. are still waiting, with nothing happening,” he said.
He called on the authorities to improve the organisation and communication surrounding the intervention exercise, stressing that many applicants had taken time off work and travelled long distances to access the passport services.
