The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has demanded that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu immediately reverse the recent hike in passport fees, describing the move as “arbitrary, unlawful, and unjustifiable.”
From September 1, 2025, Nigerians will be required to pay ₦100,000 for a 32-page passport valid for five years, while a 64-page, 10-year booklet will now cost ₦200,000. This marks a 100% increase from the last adjustment in September 2024, when fees rose to ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 respectively.
In a letter dated August 30, 2025, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP accused the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, of violating both the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights laws by imposing what it called “excessive and discriminatory” charges.
“Millions of disadvantaged Nigerians cannot realistically afford the increased fees. They should not have to choose between feeding their families and paying for passports,” SERAP warned.
The organisation stressed that the policy would unfairly burden the poorest Nigerians and deny them access to passports—documents essential not only for travel but also for identification and exercising other citizenship rights.
SERAP further argued that the Interior Ministry and the Nigeria Immigration Service failed to consider the economic realities of citizens already struggling under high inflation and rising costs of living.
The group said the measure breaches Chapters 2 and 4 of the 1999 Constitution as well as Nigeria’s commitments under treaties such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Giving the government seven days to act, SERAP threatened legal action if the policy is not reversed.
“If we do not hear from you within seven days, we will take all appropriate legal steps to compel your government, the Minister, and the Comptroller General to reverse the decision in the public interest,” the statement read.
