The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Federal Government to urgently reverse the new passport fees recently announced by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
In a statement issued on Sunday, SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, described the increase as arbitrary, unlawful, and discriminatory against poor Nigerians, warning that it would deny millions of citizens access to passports.
“Millions of disadvantaged Nigerians cannot realistically afford to pay the increased fees.
“These Nigerians should not be forced to spend their limited and grossly inadequate income on passports instead of their basic needs,” the statement read.
SERAP argued that the hike violates Chapters 2 and 4 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee fundamental rights and directive principles of state policy, stressing that citizenship rights and access to travel documents must not be restricted by excessive costs.
The group further cautioned that introducing such a hike amid ongoing economic hardship would only worsen poverty levels.
The Nigeria Immigration Service had announced that from 1 September 2025, the 32-page, five-year validity passport would cost N100,000, while the 64-page, 10-year validity passport would cost N200,000, a decision coming less than a year after a similar upward review in September 2024.
