The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has assured Nigerians in the United Kingdom that the ongoing special passport intervention programme does not attract charges beyond the officially approved passport fees.
The clarification came after reports of difficulties and inconveniences experienced by some Nigerians in the UK while applying for and processing their international passports.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the minister said the intervention programme was introduced to give Nigerians in the UK additional opportunities to process their passport applications.
Tunji-Ojo said applicants are required to pay only the approved fees of $150 for a five-year passport and $230 for a 10-year passport, in addition to applicable bank charges.
The ministry stressed that neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service had imposed any additional fees under the special intervention exercise.
“Neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service has introduced any other charges outside the aforementioned,” the statement said.
The minister said the Federal Government was aware of the concerns surrounding the exercise and was working with relevant authorities to resolve the challenges faced by applicants.
According to the statement, consultations are ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the difficulties and prevent further disruptions in the processing of passport applications by Nigerians in the UK.
Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving access to essential services for Nigerians both within and outside the country.
The ministry also encouraged eligible applicants to explore the contactless biometric passport application system, which it said provides a more convenient and streamlined option for passport processing.
The statement, dated September 7, 2026, was signed by Babatunde.
