By Asaye Bankole
The Federal Government has dismissed reports that it introduced additional charges for Nigerians applying for international passports in the United Kingdom under the ongoing special passport intervention exercise.
The clarification followed complaints from some Nigerians about delays and difficulties encountered at intervention centres, including the centre in Manchester.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, expressed concern over the situation and assured Nigerians that the government was working to resolve the challenges affecting the exercise.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the minister explained that the intervention was introduced to give Nigerians living in the UK more options for processing their passport applications.
According to the ministry, applicants are only required to pay the official passport fees of $150 for a five-year passport and $230 for a 10-year passport, excluding applicable bank charges.
The ministry stressed that neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service had approved or introduced any additional charges beyond the official fees.
The minister also disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the difficulties experienced by applicants at some centres.
He encouraged Nigerians in the UK to make use of the contactless biometric passport application system, describing it as a convenient alternative for processing passport applications.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to improving passport services and ensuring that Nigerians living both within the country and abroad receive better and more efficient services.
The clarification came after a social media complaint by the Oluomo of Derby, who criticised the experience of applicants at the Passport Intervention Centre in Manchester.
Writing on X on Monday, he said some applicants who arrived early at the centre were still waiting several hours later without receiving attention.
He said the situation was frustrating for Nigerians who had taken time away from work, travelled long distances and paid for passport services.
The complaint prompted renewed calls for better organisation, communication and service delivery at the intervention centres.
The Federal Government said it remained committed to addressing the concerns and ensuring that the passport intervention exercise achieves its intended purpose.
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