The Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom has reduced the administrative fee for its ongoing passport intervention exercise from £70 to £20 following protests and scrutiny over the higher charge.
The change took effect on Wednesday and appears on the mission’s website, though applicants were not formally notified, according to reports.
The £70 fee had been imposed during the intervention exercise despite an earlier directive under former President Muhammadu Buhari that limited charges by Nigerian diplomatic missions for making their premises available for such exercises to £20. The higher amount was introduced without approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Applicants were also charged £150 for lost passports.
The exercise drew Nigerians in the UK seeking urgent passport renewals, with appointments booked through the High Commission’s online portal. Officials familiar with the process said fees were collected from about 3,000 applicants even though the facility could handle fewer than 300 people a day.
Although the fee has now been lowered to £20, the charge still conflicts with the separate £20 administrative fee set out in the earlier directive. Officials involved in the exercise said the High Commission had sought the additional payment to facilitate the process and generate revenue.
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said he was concerned about the inconvenience faced by Nigerians trying to renew their passports. He denied knowledge of any approved administrative fee of the kind allegedly demanded by officials and said consultations were ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the difficulties.
On Tuesday the High Commission announced the suspension of biometric capturing for the passport intervention exercise in London. Applicants were directed to alternative centres to continue with their appointments.
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