The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has refuted claims of fast-track fees being imposed on Nigerian passport applicants in the United Kingdom and other foreign countries.
The Service on Tuesday July 30, 2024, emphasised that there is no truth to these reports and rejected any links to Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior.
In a statement, NIS spokesman Kenneth Udo clarified, “The Minister is only responsible for supervisory roles and is not involved in the operational aspects of passport issuance. The so-called ‘fast-track’ charges are false and do not exist beyond the imagination of the claimants.”
The NIS stated that official passport processing fees have remained constant without additional charges. The Service also highlighted recent improvements in the passport procurement process, noting that the Interior Minister played a significant role in the full automation of these processes, benefiting Nigerian applicants.
Udo dismissed the allegations as “derogatory, false, and unfounded” and urged the public to disregard them. He confirmed that the authorized fee for a Nigerian international passport in the UK is $150 for a five-year validity and $230 for a ten-year validity passport, excluding bank charges.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to providing quality service in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration,” Udo added.
