ABUJA / LONDON — The Federal Government has issued a formal clarification reassuring Nigerian citizens residing in the United Kingdom that no additional or unauthorized fees have been introduced under the ongoing special passport intervention exercise in London.
In an official statement released on Monday, September 7, 2026, by Alao Babatunde, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the ministry addressed growing public complaints and social media reports concerning processing inconveniences and alleged extra charges at UK application centers.
The Ministry of Interior confirmed that neither the ministry nor the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has altered or inflated the standard passport fees. Official charges remain capped strictly at $150 for a 5-year validity passport and $230 for a 10-year validity passport (exclusive of standard banking charges).
Key Clarifications & Ministerial Directives
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Purpose of Special Intervention: The Ministry explained that the special passport intervention exercise was established to create additional capacity, clear existing backlogs, and ease application access for the large Nigerian diaspora population across the UK, not as a revenue-generating exercise with inflated fees.
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Inter-Ministerial Action on Logistics: Acknowledging administrative friction and long delays experienced by applicants, Dr. Tunji-Ojo confirmed that direct consultations are underway with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian High Commission in London to streamline queue management, data capture logistics, and consular support.
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Transition to Contactless Capture: The Ministry advised applicants to increasingly utilize the government’s newly deployed Contactless Biometric Passport Application System, which allows citizens to complete renewals, upload documents, and process biometrics remotely via mobile technology without visiting physical intervention venues.
