The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday defended the recent increase in passport fees, explaining that the rise was approximately 45 percent.

He attributed the hike to fluctuations in the exchange rate between the dollar and the naira.

In August, the Nigerian Immigration Service announced an upward adjustment in the fees for the Nigerian Standard Passport.

Under the new structure, a 32-page passport booklet with a five-year validity now costs N50,000, up from N35,000, while a 64-page passport booklet with a 10-year validity has increased from N70,000 to N100,000.

Many Nigerians have expressed frustration over the higher fees, accusing the government of making it more expensive to “japa”.

However, during a media briefing in Abuja marking his first year in office, the minister stated that the government cannot subsidize passport fees for Nigerians.

He also clarified that the price increase does not apply to Nigerians living abroad.

Tunji-Ojo said, “The increase in passport fees is a matter of cost-benefit analysis, especially when you consider the exchange rate between the dollar and the naira. If the government were to subsidise anything, I don’t think it should be passports. The increase is just from N35,000 to N50,000 — only about 45 per cent. There has been no increase for Nigerians abroad.”

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