The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has dismissed reports of fast-track fee collection allegedly imposed on applicants for Nigerian passports in the United Kingdom and some foreign countries.
The Service said there was no iota of truth in the report as some interest groups accused the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo of being behind the fees.
The NIS said in a statement by its spokesman, Kenneth Udo that there was nothing like fast-track fees in the procurement of passports, let alone to link the Minister to it.
“The Service wishes to state categorically that, the Minister is only charged with supervisory roles and not involved in the operational aspect of issuing passports hence, the purported Passport ‘fast-track’ charges claim being insinuated is false and exists only in the imagination of the authors.
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“Being the Service directly charged with the statutory responsibility of issuing Passports at home and abroad, the NIS can attest that the Official processing fees for the acquisition of Passport have been consistent without additional charges.
“Furthermore, the procurement processes have been faster and easier for all applicants. It will interest the public to note that the Interior Minister played a key role in facilitating the full automation of the passport processes being issued today with its attendant benefits to Nigerians, ” Udo said.
Udo described the ”fast track fees” allegation as derogatory, false, and unfounded. He urged Nigerians to disregard it in its entirety.
” The Nigeria Immigration Service is using this opportunity to state categorically, for the umpteenth time, that the authorized fee for the procurement of Nigeria international passport in the United Kingdom is $150 for a five (5) validity period and $230 for a ten (10) year validity period passport not inclusive of bank charges.
“The Service is committed to delivering quality service to the public in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration, ” Udo said.
