Interior Minister confirms UK passport processing incurs no extra cost
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has clarified that the application and processing of international passports under the ongoing special passport intervention exercise in the United Kingdom attracts no extra cost beyond the official fees. According to a statement by his Special Adviser, Alao Babatunde, issued on Monday, applicants will pay only the standard charges of $150 for a five-year validity passport and $230 for a ten-year validity passport, exclusive of any bank fees. Tunji-Ojo emphasized that neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service has introduced any additional fees for this exercise, which was created to provide more options for Nigerians residing in the UK to process their passports. He noted that the intervention was prompted by the inconvenience experienced by Nigerians in the UK, and that consultations are ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure any remaining inconveniences are resolved swiftly. Applicants were further advised to take advantage of the seamless contactless biometric passport application system now available. The clarification aims to dispel fears of hidden costs and encourage eligible Nigerians in the UK to utilize the service without financial hesitation.