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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order an immediate reversal of the new passport fees introduced by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), saying the increase is arbitrary, unlawful, and a violation of the human rights of citizens.
Last week, the NIS announced that beginning from September 1, 2025, Nigerians will now pay ₦100,000 for a 32-page passport booklet with five-year validity, and ₦200,000 for a 64-page booklet with ten-year validity. This latest adjustment comes barely one year after a similar increment was made in September 2024, sparking fresh outrage among Nigerians.
In a letter dated August 30, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said the new policy will deny millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians access to passports and unlawfully restrict their constitutional rights.
“The unlawfully high fees amount to a discriminatory denial of access to a passport to millions of socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians and unlawful restrictions of their other citizenship rights,” the letter read in part.
SERAP noted that the decision is not only excessive but also disproportionate, stressing that it is incompatible with Chapters 2 and 4 of the 1999 Constitution which provide for fundamental rights and directive principles of state policy.
The organisation argued that the increased charges will worsen the hardship of citizens who are already struggling with the country’s economic challenges, high inflation, and rising cost of living.
“The increased fees will hit hardest those at the bottom of the economy,” SERAP warned, insisting that the government ought to have considered the financial realities of millions of Nigerians before approving the hike.
The letter also pointed fingers at the Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, saying both officials failed to show sensitivity to the economic struggles of ordinary Nigerians when endorsing the new charges.
SERAP further urged President Tinubu to direct the immediate reversal of the increment, stressing that access to passports is not a privilege but a fundamental right linked to freedom of movement, business opportunities, education, and family life.
The group reminded the government that many Nigerians abroad rely on passports to keep their residency and work permits valid, and the sudden increase could push many into undocumented status.
The organisation also threatened legal action if the Federal Government fails to reverse the decision within seven days.
“Should the authorities fail to act, we will take all appropriate legal steps to challenge this policy in the interest of justice, fairness, and respect for the rule of law,” SERAP warned.
Many Nigerians have taken to social media platforms to express anger and frustration over the hike, with some describing it as another burden on citizens already battling economic hardship. Others questioned why the government continues to increase fees without improving the speed and efficiency of passport processing.
This latest development adds to the growing list of policy debates in the country, with critics urging the government to find more sustainable ways of raising revenue without punishing ordinary citizens.
As of now, the Federal Government has not issued any official response to SERAP’s demand.
