The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has announced that the recent increase in international passport fees is aimed at improving quality, expediting the processing time, and enhancing accessibility for applicants.
Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, the NIS Comptroller for Adamawa, made this statement on Monday in Yola during the launch of a sensitization campaign to inform residents about the new fees. Mohammed explained that, effective from September 1st, the cost of a 32-page passport booklet with five years validity will rise to ₦50,000, up from the previous ₦35,000. Meanwhile, the 64-page passport booklet with ten years validity will now cost ₦100,000, an increase from ₦70,000. He noted that applicants residing abroad would not be impacted by this fee adjustment.
Justifying the government’s decision, Mohammed stated, “this new enhanced passport offers better durability and quality, in line with international standards. It includes biometric features, making it more secure and resistant to counterfeiting or tampering compared to the old version.”
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He advised those seeking to obtain or renew their passports to apply online or visit NIS offices directly, cautioning against using intermediaries to avoid scams.
Mohammed also urged religious leaders to inform their communities about the changes, adding that applicants who submit their applications before September 1 will be charged the old rates. He mentioned that the NIS would extend the awareness campaign to Local Government Areas, beginning with Mubi.
Representatives from the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Muslim Council in Adamawa, Mr. Joel Manzo and Alhaji Aliyu Iya, respectively, thanked the NIS for the awareness initiative and promised to communicate the information to their followers. NIS has already begun the sensitization campaign in motor parks and major streets across the state capital.
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