42 Per Cent Increase In Passport Fees Undemocratic, Uncalled-for, Unacceptable – CHSR Demands Reversal

Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has demanded that the federal government immediately revert the 42 per cent hike in Nigeria’s passport fees announced by President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, the human rights group described the increase as undemocratic, uncalled-for, and unacceptable to Nigerians.

Omotehinse stated that it came at a time when Nigerians faced the challenges of the high cost of living occasioned by the scarcity of fuel. He added that the federal government should be more concerned about incentives that will enhance the welfare of the people and address the worsening insecurity in the country.

This is not the time to inflict more hardship on the people but to help Nigerians cope with the complex challenges of survival. CHSR, as a matter of urgency, demands that the federal government immediately revert to the old charges and mandate the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to maintain the status quo,” he said.

The Federal Government had on Wednesday night announced a 42 per cent increase in the fees for the Nigerian Standard Passport, effective from September 1, 2024, with only a 10-day notice to the citizens.

According to the press release by the NIS spokesperson, DCI K. T. Udo, the hike was to “maintain the quality and integrity of the travel document.”

It stated that the cost of a 32-page passport booklet with a five-year validity would rise from N35,000 to N50,000. Similarly, the fee for the 64-page passport booklet with a ten-year validity will increase from N70,000 to N100,000. It, however, clarified that the fees would remain unchanged for Nigerians in the diaspora.

The increase came barely two weeks after the #Endbadgovernance protests against the government’s insensitive policies, taxation and hikes that have severely impacted the cost of living.

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