The Nigeria High Commission in the United Kingdom has reduced its charge for the ongoing passport intervention exercise from £70 to £20 following public criticism over the additional fee imposed on applicants.
The reduction took effect on Wednesday, September 9, with the new £20 charge displayed on the High Commission’s website. However, applicants were reportedly not separately notified of the change.
The adjustment followed reports that the mission had introduced an additional £70 administrative charge during the passport intervention exercise, which began on Monday.
According to reports, a directive issued under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari had instructed Nigerian diplomatic missions not to charge more than £20 for making their premises available for similar passport intervention exercises.
The High Commission was reportedly accused of imposing the £70 administrative fee without approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while applicants seeking replacement passports for lost documents were being charged £150.
Nigerians seeking faster passport renewal had booked appointments through the High Commission’s online portal, where the charges were displayed at the time of application.
Officials familiar with the exercise reportedly said fees had been collected from about 3,000 applicants, despite the High Commission having the capacity to accommodate fewer than 300 people daily.
The newly reduced £20 passport intervention fee also remains separate from the £20 administrative charge stipulated under the earlier directive.
Officials involved in the exercise alleged that the additional payment had been introduced to facilitate the intervention programme and “generate revenue”.
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo had earlier expressed concern over difficulties encountered by Nigerians during the passport intervention exercise.
Tunji-Ojo also denied that the disputed administrative fees were required, saying consultations were ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the challenges surrounding the exercise.
The controversy followed protests by Nigerians over the charges and difficulties experienced during the passport intervention programme.
On Tuesday, September 8, the Nigeria High Commission announced the suspension of biometric capturing in London and directed applicants to alternative centres to continue with their scheduled appointments.
The reduction in the intervention fee comes amid continued efforts by the Nigerian authorities to resolve concerns raised by applicants over the passport exercise in the UK.
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