Di Nigeria goment don announce say di price of getting a Nigeria Passport don increase.
According to di statement wey goment issue late Wednesday, 32-page Passport wey get 5-year validity go now cost 50,000 naira, up from 35,000 naira wey e bin dey bifor.
Also, di 64-page passport wey go last for 10 years, wey im price bifor na 70,000 naira, go now be 100,000 naira.
Di price upgrade go take effect from September 1, 2024, and na only for Nigerians wey dey live for Nigeria, bicoObimbabes di statement tok say "di fees no go change for Nigerians wey dey abroad".
Why di price increase?
Di Nigeria Immigration Service explain some of di reasons wey make dem raise di price of getting passport and one of dem na sake of di rising cost of production and issuance.
Anoda reason na to make sure say di process remain sustainable witout compromising on di security and quality standards of passports for across di globe.
Also, di Nigeria Immigration Service say di increase go help reduce di time of processing di passport so dat person wey apply go fit receive am faster.
E go also support local production of passport materials so e go reduce dia dependence on imports and boost economy.
Di NIS also explain say dem dey plan to open more centres across di kontri even for rural areas wia pipo go dey apply and collect dia passports.
Positive changes for passport application process
Within di past one year, some positive changes don happen for di passport application process for Nigeria, as multiple sources confirm.
For June 2023, BBC Pidgin interview di acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Adepoju Wuraola, and one di tins she promise to do for office na to “overcome all di problems wey Nigerians dey face bifor dem fit collect dia passport”
Also, di current Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, bin assure BBC Pidgin for anoda exclusive interview say im top priority na to digitize di passport application process and make am almost autonomous.
For dat interview, oga Tunji-Ojo say dem dey target di time from wen pesin apply for passport to wen e go receive am to be between two and three weeks.
"Realistically we dey target two weeks (to renew and get your passport) but for some places, e still dey take like three weeks but for me, wit di reforms wey we dey bring onboard in di next couple of weeks, even di two weeks go dey too long, so we dey look at one week." E tok dat time.
According to Tunji-Ojo, di only tin wey go carry pesin go Immigration office for passport application na di biometric data capture process, “evri oda tin na for di Immigration website you go do am”.
Pipo wey dey apply for renewal of passport and pipo wey wan effect change of name or date of birth or any mistake for dia personal data, go also fit do am for di website witout going physically to di Immigration office.
Bifor now, to apply for passport dey take several months, and some immigration officers bin dey accused of extorting moni from pipo to fast track dia application.
How to apply for Nigeria passport
Di website to apply for Nigeria passport na 'passport.immigration.gov.ng', and di following na requirements for person wey wan apply for fresh passport, for adult and minor:
.Letter of identification from Local Government/State of origin or residence or National Identity Card
.For goment eployees: Letter of introduction stating Service Number, Length of Service and Designation/Rank.
.Valid staff ID card
.Completed passport application form
.Marriage certificate, where applicable.
.Birth Certificate (Pipo wey dem born from December 1992 must to submit certificate by di National Population Commission)
.Pesin wey no get birth certificate go provide age declaration document endorsed by a Commissioner for Oaths, wit one passport-sized photograph
.Acknowledgement Slip and Evidence of Payment.
For Minors
.Completed passport application form, wit 1 passport-sized photograph to be endorsed on di oda side by di consenting parent(s).
.Evidence of Nigerian citizenship of parent(s).
.Birth certificate (certificate must be issued by the National Population Commission for minors wey dem born for Nigeria).
.Letter of consent from either parent.
.Acknowledgement Slip and Evidence of Payment.
.For child wey dem adopt, di parent(s) go provide court order and letter of approval from di Ministry of Women and Child Development
Di Nigerian Minister for Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo don drive some positive changes for passport application process for Nigeria since e take office in August last year