President Bola Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has spoken out in defense of the new increase in passport application fees by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Ajayi explained on X (formerly Twitter) that many Nigerians were already paying far more than the official charges by giving bribes just to speed up their passport processing.

On Thursday, August 28, the NIS announced new rates starting September 1, 2025. A 32-page passport with five years’ validity will now cost ₦100,000, while the 64-page version with ten years’ validity will go for ₦200,000.

The new charges will only apply to applications made within Nigeria. For those applying outside the country, the cost remains at $150 for the 32-page booklet and $230 for the 64-page booklet.

According to the NIS, the increase is aimed at maintaining the quality and global recognition of the Nigerian passport.

The announcement has triggered widespread criticism from Nigerians, including opposition leader Peter Obi.

Obi argued that the government keeps adding to the people’s burden and described the move as insensitive to citizens’ struggles.

He stressed that with the new minimum wage at ₦70,000, it is unfair that the cost of one passport now surpasses a worker’s monthly salary. He noted that this makes Nigeria one of the few countries where such an imbalance exists.

In reaction to Obi and other critics, Temitope Ajayi wrote that Nigerians were already spending over ₦100,000 and ₦200,000 unofficially on bribes to immigration officers to get their passports quickly.

He added that the only change now is that the money will go directly into government accounts rather than into the hands of corrupt officers, while still providing the same fast service.