‘Nigerians Have Always Paid More Than ₦100k, ₦200k To Get Passport’ – Tinubu’s Aide
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has claimed that Nigerians have always paid more than ₦ 100,000 and ₦ 200,000 in bribes to obtain a 5-year and 10-year valid travel passport.
The spokesman of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), A. S. Akinlabi, in a statement on Thursday, disclosed that the new rates will only apply to passport applications submitted within Nigeria.
Akinlade stated, “The review, which only affects passport application fees made in Nigeria, now sets new thresholds at ₦100,000 for a 32-page booklet with five-year validity and ₦200,000 for a 64-page booklet with 10-year validity.”
He explained that the increment was aimed at safeguarding the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport, which will take effect on September 1, 2025.
The statement added that Nigerians applying for passports in the diaspora would not be affected by the new review.
Reacting to the outrage online, Temitope Ajayi stated that Nigerians had always bribed immigration officers to get their passports on time.
According to him, ‘bribes’ often given to Immigration officers will go into government coffers for express service instead of private pockets.
He wrote, “Nigerians have always paid more than N100k and N200k to get the 5 years and 10 years valid travel passport, in bribes, to Immigration officers to get their passports out on time. The difference now is: the money will go into government coffers for the same express service instead of private pockets.”
