FG Denies New Passport Charges for Nigerians in UK
The Federal Government has denied imposing additional charges on Nigerians applying for international passports in the United Kingdom under its ongoing special passport intervention exercise.
The clarification followed complaints by some Nigerians over delays and inconveniences at intervention centres, including the centre in Manchester.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, expressed concern over the situation and assured applicants that efforts were underway to address the challenges associated with the exercise.
In a statement on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the minister said the intervention was introduced to provide Nigerians in the UK with more options for processing their passport applications.
The ministry said applicants were required to pay only the approved fees of $150 for a five year passport and $230 for a 10 year passport, excluding applicable bank charges.
The statement said neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service had introduced any additional charges beyond the approved fees.
Tunji Ojo also disclosed that consultations were ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the difficulties being experienced by applicants at some of the intervention centres.
“Consultations are ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that any inconveniences during this process do not persist any longer,” he said.
The minister urged applicants to take advantage of the contactless biometric passport application system, describing it as a seamless alternative for processing passport applications.
The clarification followed a social media complaint by the Oluomo of Derby, who criticised the experience at the Passport Intervention Centre in Manchester.
Writing on X on Monday, he said applicants who arrived early at the centre were still waiting several hours later without receiving attention.
He said, “It is now 11:30 a.m., and people who arrived as early as 9:00 a.m. are still waiting, with nothing happening.”
He urged the authorities to improve the organisation and communication surrounding the intervention exercise, noting that many applicants had taken time off work and travelled long distances to access the service.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to improving passport services for Nigerians at home and abroad, assuring citizens that steps were being taken to ensure a more efficient experience.