Nigerian Passport now costs nearly 3 times the minimum wage

By Chidozie Nwali

The Nigerian government has made traveling a high-end luxury for its citizens, with a significant increase in the  cost of obtaining a Nigerian passport. The price of the 64-page booklet now nearly tripled the West African country’s minimum wage.

This development, which took effect on September 1, 2025, has sparked public debate and concern over the accessibility of travel documents for the average Nigerian.

Key Figures:

• Nigerian Minimum Wage: ₦70,000 ($45) per month. This figure was officially set by the federal government in 2024, although its implementation has faced challenges and it is widely considered inadequate due to high inflation.

 Nigerian Passport Fees:

• 32-page (5-year validity): ₦100,000 ($65).
•  64-page (10-year validity): ₦200,000 ($130)

A worker earning the national minimum wage of ₦70,000 per month would need to save more than three months of their entire salary to afford the 64-page, 10-year passport.

Even the cheaper 32-page passport would require a full month and a half of their income. This presents a considerable financial barrier for many citizens seeking to travel for work, education, or other personal reasons.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Minister of Interior Mr. Olubunmi Tunji ojo defended the price hike, stating it is a necessary measure to “improve service delivery”, combat corruption, and expedite the passport application process.

However, citizens, groups including civil society organizations  the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), have called for a reversal of the fee increase.

They argue that the “arbitrary, unlawful, and excessive” fees would further impoverish the population and violate Nigerians’ right to travel.

The move is also seen by many as being out of touch with the current economic realities faced by millions of Nigerians, where the minimum wage is already insufficient to cover basic living expenses.

This recent fee increase follows a previous hike in September 2024, which had also significantly raised the cost of passports. The continuous increase in passport fees, combined with a minimum wage that struggles to keep pace with inflation, highlights a growing disparity that is making official travel documents a luxury for the privileged few rather than a right for all citizens.