THE Federal Government has expressed deep concern over the inconveniences currently being experienced by Nigerians residing in the United Kingdom regarding the application and processing of their international passports.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo while addressing in a statement on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde said that these concerns are being addressed.

He noted that the operational hitches were reported during the ongoing special passport intervention exercise in the UK promoting the government to initiated a specific programme to provide broader options and significantly ease the administrative burden for citizens in the diaspora who are seeking to seamlessly renew or acquire their travel documents.

The minister categorically clarified the financial requirements for the passport processing, distancing the authorities from any arbitrary or unofficial levies.

He maintained that the intervention exercise does not attract any additional costs beyond the legally stipulated official fees.

“It is therefore necessary to clarify that this process does not come with extra cost different from the official fees of $150 and $230 for a five year and ten year validity passports respectively, exclusive of bank charges,” the statement read in part.

Tunji-Ojo strongly emphasised that neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has authorised, endorsed, or introduced any hidden charges outside the officially recognised passport fees.

This timely clarification comes amid growing public concerns and complaints from applicants regarding suspected exploitation and administrative bottlenecks during the ongoing special intervention programme.

To swiftly resolve the operational difficulties and ensure a smooth, transparent experience for Nigerians in the diaspora, the Interior Minister revealed that high-level strategic consultations are currently underway with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Tunji-Ojo assured affected applicants that “Consultations are ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that any inconveniences during this process do not persist any longer,”

Reaffirming the current administration’s dedication to the welfare of its citizens, the minister noted that the government remains steadfast in its mandate of delivering efficient public services globally and ” has demonstrated high level of responsibility to Nigerians home and abroad, and remains committed to its promises of providing succour to all,” he stated.

Furthermore, to bypass the physical hurdles associated with traditional application processes, the government advised applicants to explore digital alternatives.

Tunji-Ojo urged Nigerians in the UK to leverage the newly implemented, seamless contactless biometric passport application system to avoid unnecessary delays and enhance efficiency.