The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given President Bola Tinubu seven days to reverse what it calls “arbitrary, unlawful, unjustified, and excessive” passport fees, threatening legal action if the government fails to comply.
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In a letter dated August 30 and signed by deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP argued the increases violate constitutional rights and international human rights obligations. “The unlawfully high fees amount to a discriminatory denial of access to a passport to millions of socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians,” the organisation stated.
The rights group has directed its ultimatum to Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and NIS Comptroller General Kemi Nanna Nandap, warning that failure to act within the deadline will trigger “all appropriate legal actions.”
SERAP’s challenge centres on the economic burden the increases place on ordinary Nigerians during a period of widespread financial hardship. “Millions of disadvantaged Nigerians cannot realistically afford to pay the increased fees,” the organisation argued, noting that citizens would be forced to choose between obtaining passports and meeting basic living needs.
The rights group contends the increases violate chapters 2 and 4 of the Nigerian Constitution, which cover fundamental objectives and citizens’ rights, as well as international treaties including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The latest hike continues a trend of steep passport fee increases. Just one year ago, in September 2024, NIS raised the 32-page passport from N35,000 to N50,000 and the 64-page version from N70,000 to N100,000.
The timing of the new increases, coming amid Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges, has intensified criticism from SERAP, which argues the government failed to assess the impact on citizens already struggling with inflation and reduced purchasing power.
“The unlawful increase in passport fees at a time the country is facing economic and financial crises would contribute further to the impoverishment of the population,” SERAP warned.
The organisation maintains that the increases violate Nigerians’ fundamental right to travel and obtain necessary travel documents, describing the fee structure as discriminatory against the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
The seven-day ultimatum sets up a potential legal confrontation between the rights organization and the federal government over passport accessibility and citizens’ constitutional rights.
Nigerian passport applicants will pay double the current rates which started September 1.
The new charges set a 32-page, five-year passport at N100,000 (up from N50,000) and a 64-page, 10-year passport at N200,000 (up from N100,000), marking the second consecutive year of significant price increases for the essential travel document.
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