The Federal Government has denied imposing additional charges on Nigerians applying for international passports in the United Kingdom under the ongoing special passport intervention exercise.
The clarification followed complaints by applicants over delays and difficulties at some intervention centres, including the facility in Manchester.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, expressed concern over the reported challenges and assured Nigerians that steps were being taken to address the issues.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the minister said the intervention exercise was introduced to provide Nigerians in the UK with additional options for processing their passport applications.
According to the ministry, applicants are required to pay only the official passport fees of $150 for a five-year validity passport and $230 for a 10-year passport, excluding applicable bank charges.
The statement said, “It is therefore necessary to clarify that this process does not come with extra costs different from the official fees of $150 and $230 for five-year and ten-year validity passports respectively, exclusive of bank charges. Neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service has introduced any other charges outside the aforementioned.”
Tunji-Ojo said consultations were also ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the difficulties being experienced by applicants.
“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 consider the contactless biometric passport application system, describing it as a seamless alternative for processing passport applications.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving passport and other services for Nigerians both within the country and abroad.
“This government has demonstrated a high level of responsibility to Nigerians at home and abroad, and remains committed to its promises of providing succour to all,” he said.
The clarification followed a social media complaint by Oluomo of Derby, who criticised the experience of applicants at the Passport Intervention Centre in Manchester.
In a post on X on Monday, Oluomo said applicants who arrived at the centre early were left waiting for hours without receiving attention.
“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 said.
He called on the authorities to improve the organisation and communication surrounding the intervention exercise, stressing that many applicants had taken time off work and travelled long distances to access the service.
“This is not the way to treat Nigerians who have taken time off work, travelled long distances, and paid for passport services,” he said.
