The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has criticised the Bola Tinubu administration over the recent upward review of Nigerian passport fees, describing it as a sign of government’s detachment from the people.
Obi expressed his concerns in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, warning that the constant imposition of financial burdens on citizens was worsening hardship across the country.
“The obsession of this administration with putting a burden on the populace is becoming legendary and continues to reveal its apparent disconnect with the people and the suffering,” Obi wrote.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had announced that, starting September 1, 2025, passport fees in Nigeria would increase to ₦100,000 for a 32-page booklet and ₦200,000 for a 64-page booklet. This marks the third increase in two years.
Obi noted that the development was particularly troubling given Nigeria’s new minimum wage of ₦70,000.
“In a country where the new minimum wage is only ₦70,000, the cost of a single passport now exceeds a worker’s monthly salary, probably the only country in the world to achieve this feat. Instead of making life easier, this government keeps shifting the burden onto ordinary Nigerians,” he added.
Obi concluded by describing the hike as “alarming”, stressing that a Nigerian passport now costs more than what many workers earn in a month.
