The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Federal Government to immediately reverse the newly announced passport fees, describing the hike as arbitrary, unlawful, and discriminatory against poor Nigerians.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had revealed that, effective September 1, 2025, applicants will pay N100,000 for a 32-page, five-year validity passport, and N200,000 for a 64-page, 10-year validity passport. The increase comes less than a year after a similar adjustment in September 2024.

In a letter dated August 30, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP warned that the increment would effectively deny millions of socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians access to passports.

“Millions of disadvantaged Nigerians cannot realistically afford the increased fees. They should not be forced to spend their meagre income on passports instead of basic living needs,” the group said.

SERAP also faulted the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, for failing to balance revenue generation with citizens’ rights.

It argued that the decision contravened chapters 2 and 4 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee fundamental objectives of state policy and citizens’ rights.

According to the organisation, “Nigerians who cannot pay the excessive fees would be deprived of the effective enjoyment of their constitutional rights and international human rights obligations to which Nigeria is a party.”

The group further cautioned that the hike, coming at a time of widespread economic hardship, would worsen the plight of ordinary citizens.

SERAP has given the Federal Government seven days to reverse the decision or face legal action.