The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap, to reverse the recent increase in passport fees, describing the hike as “arbitrary, unlawful, unjustified, and excessive.”
In a letter dated 30 August 2025 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation criticised the new rates for the Nigerian Standard Passport, which will take effect from 1 September 2025. Under the revised fees, a 32-page passport with five-year validity will cost N100,000, while a 64-page passport with ten-year validity will now attract N200,000.
The organisation noted that the fees had already been increased in September 2024, less than a year prior.
SERAP stated that the increased fees would disproportionately affect economically disadvantaged Nigerians.
“Millions of socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians cannot realistically afford to pay the increased fees,” the letter read.
“These Nigerians should not be forced to spend their limited and grossly inadequate income to pay the increased fees instead of spending it on their basic living needs.”
The organisation further argued that the increase infringed on constitutional and international human rights obligations.
“The Minister of Interior and the Comptroller General of the NIS have a legal responsibility to ensure an appropriate balance between the imposition of excessive passport fees on citizens and the safeguarding of citizens’ rights,” the letter said.
“Nigerians who cannot afford to pay the excessive fees would be denied the effective enjoyment of their citizenship rights conferred by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 \[as amended] and human rights treaties to which the country is a state party.”
According to SERAP, the fee hike was inconsistent with chapters 2 and 4 of the Nigerian Constitution, which cover the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy and fundamental rights.
The organisation criticised the authorities for failing to assess the economic impact on Nigerians. “The Minister of Interior and the Comptroller General of the NIS acted unlawfully when they arbitrarily increased the passport fees,” the letter said.
SERAP requested that the government reverse the fee adjustment within seven days of receipt or publication of the letter, warning that legal action would be pursued if the request was not met.
The organisation emphasised that the fee increase would violate Nigerians’ right to travel and obtain necessary travel documents and described the hike as discriminatory.
The NIS announced the upward review of passport fees on 28 August 2025, stating that applications for a 32-page passport previously costing N50,000 would rise to N100,000, while a 64-page passport that cost N100,000 would now be N200,000.
The fees had been increased in September 2024 from N35,000 to N50,000 for the 32-page passport and from N70,000 to N100,000 for the 64-page passport.
SERAP’s letter highlights concerns over the economic burden of the fees amid broader financial challenges in the country.
