The Federal Government has dismissed reports suggesting that Nigerians in the United Kingdom are being required to pay additional fees under the ongoing special passport intervention programme.
The clarification came amid complaints from applicants about delays and poor coordination at some passport intervention centres, including the facility in Manchester.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the intervention was designed to expand access to passport services for Nigerians in the UK and insisted that no new charges had been introduced.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the minister said applicants were only expected to pay the approved passport fees.
He said, “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.”
Tunji-Ojo added that neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service had authorised any additional payment outside the stipulated fees.
The minister also disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the difficulties being experienced by applicants at the intervention centres.
He said, “Consultations are ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that any inconveniences during this process do not persist any longer.”
Tunji-Ojo further encouraged Nigerians in the UK to use the contactless biometric passport application option, which he described as a convenient alternative for processing applications.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving passport services and ensuring that Nigerians living abroad have easier access to government services.
According to him, “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.”
The ministry’s response followed a complaint by Oluomo of Derby on X, where he criticised the experience of applicants at the Manchester Passport Intervention Centre.
Oluomo said people who arrived early at the centre were left waiting for several hours without receiving attention.
He wrote, “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 called on the authorities to improve the organisation and communication surrounding the intervention exercise, noting that many applicants had taken time away from work and travelled long distances to access the service.
He added, “This is not the way to treat Nigerians who have taken time off work, travelled long distances, and paid for passport services.”
The Federal Government said it was taking steps to address the concerns and improve the experience of Nigerians using the passport intervention programme in the UK.
