The Federal Government has dismissed claims that Nigerians seeking international passports in the United Kingdom are being subjected to extra payments as part of the ongoing passport intervention programme.
The clarification came after applicants raised concerns over prolonged waiting times and alleged poor coordination at some intervention centres, particularly the facility in Manchester.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, acknowledged the complaints and said steps were being taken to address the difficulties encountered by applicants.
In a statement released on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the minister said the intervention programme was introduced to improve access to passport services for Nigerians residing in the UK.
The ministry stated that applicants are required to pay only the officially approved passport fees — $150 for a five-year passport and $230 for a 10-year passport. It added that bank charges are the only additional costs permitted.
According to the ministry, neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service approved any other charges apart from the stipulated fees.
Tunji-Ojo said the government was working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to tackle the challenges reported by applicants and ensure smoother service delivery.
He also advised Nigerians in the UK to explore the contactless biometric passport application option, which he described as a more convenient alternative that enables eligible applicants to complete the process with fewer visits to passport centres.
The minister reiterated the government’s determination to reform passport services and make public services easier to access for Nigerians at home and abroad.
The government’s response followed a complaint shared on X by the Oluomo of Derby, who expressed dissatisfaction with the situation at the Manchester Passport Intervention Centre.
He alleged that some applicants who arrived early were left waiting for several hours without being attended to.
According to him, individuals who got to the centre at about 9 a.m. were still waiting as of 11:30 a.m., with little progress recorded.
The complainant appealed to the relevant authorities to improve coordination and communication at the intervention centres, stressing that many applicants had taken time off work and travelled long distances to obtain passport services.
