The Federal Government has dismissed reports that Nigerians applying for international passports in the United Kingdom are being asked to pay additional charges under the ongoing passport intervention programme.

The clarification followed complaints from applicants about long delays and poor coordination at some intervention centres, including the facility in Manchester.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, acknowledged the concerns and said measures were being taken to resolve the challenges affecting applicants.

In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the minister explained that the intervention programme was established to give Nigerians in the UK greater access to passport services.

The ministry stressed that applicants are expected to pay only the approved passport fees — $150 for a five-year passport and $230 for a 10-year passport — with bank charges being the only additional applicable cost.

It said neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service had authorised any other payment beyond the official fees.

Tunji-Ojo said the government was also engaging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the difficulties experienced by applicants are resolved.

He further encouraged Nigerians in the UK to consider the contactless biometric passport application option, describing it as a convenient alternative that allows eligible applicants to complete the process with fewer physical visits.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving passport services and making public services more accessible to Nigerians living both within the country and abroad.

The government’s clarification followed a complaint posted on X by the Oluomo of Derby, who raised concerns about the situation at the Manchester Passport Intervention Centre.
He alleged that applicants who arrived early remained unattended for hours.

He said people who had arrived around 9 a.m. were still waiting by 11:30 a.m., with little or no progress being made.

The complainant called on the authorities to improve the organisation and communication at the centres, noting that many applicants had taken time away from work and travelled considerable distances to access the passport service.