The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has announced a new fee structure for passport applications processed within the country, with effect from September.
In a statement Thursday by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, ACI AS Akinlabi, the revised charges peg the cost of a 32-page passport with five-year validity at N100,000, while the 64-page booklet with 10-year validity will now cost N200,000.
The NIS clarified that the new fees apply strictly to applications made in Nigeria, while charges for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged at $150 for the 32-page, five-year passport and $230 for the 64-page, 10-year passport.
The NIS explained that the adjustment is intended to sustain the quality and security of the Nigerian passport while ensuring continued accessibility for citizens.
Credible News recalls that on Tuesday, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said the automation of Nigeria’s passport application is 99 per cent completed.
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Ojo, speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today said the automated application will become operational in a week’s time noting that after completion, Nigerians will only go to immigration centres to do fingerprint biometrics for their passports.
He also disclosed that with the new system; Nigerians can upload their passport photographs and other supporting documents from the comfort of their homes.
“We gave a date — December 2023. We are 99 per cent done. In fact, we have done the testing, and we should be going live in the next week or thereabouts.
“This will ensure that what Nigerians need to do at an immigration centre is just fingerprint biometrics.
“Everything regarding pre-biometrics will be done in the comfort of your homes, including uploading passport photographs and supporting documents.
“They will have gone live about two weeks ago, but I saw some errors when they came to do the presentation, and I said no. We were talking about balancing national security and convenience”, said the minister.
He also disclosed that e-gate systems would be installed at international airports in the country by February 2024.
“By February, all our international airports will have e-gates
“Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest,” he disclosed.
Crediblenewsng.com
