Nigerians, immigration officers guilty of bribery, corruption; passport fee hike justified: Tinubu’s Aide
Temitope Ajayi, President Bola Tinubu’s media aide, says the astronomical hike in passport fees is justified amid widespread economic hardship and disillusionment in Nigeria. The presidential aide accused Nigerians and Nigeria Immigration Service officers of bribery and corruption, arguing that this is a sufficient reason to raise the passport fee.
Specifically, Mr Ajayi stated that there should be no need for citizens to complain because they have been guilty of aiding and abetting corrupt immigration officers.
The presidential aide is notorious for making controversial statements.
In a post on Facebook on Friday, the presidential aide said, “Nigerians have always paid more than N100k and N200k to get the five-year and 10-year valid travel passports, in bribes, to immigration officers to get their passports out on time.”
He added, “The difference is: the money will now go into government coffers for the same express service instead of private pockets.”
Mr Ajayi’s statement comes after the Nigerian Immigration Service announced a hike in passport fees.
In a statement on Thursday, the NIS announced an “upward review of Nigerian Standard Passport fees, set to take effect on 1st September, 2025.”
According to NIS, the review, which only affects passport application fees in Nigeria, has now established new fee thresholds for 32-page passports with a five-year validity at N100,000 and 64-page passports with a 10-year validity at N200,000.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Heading 3
2027: Labour Party youth leaders begin talks on backing APC, Tinubu
Several Labour Party youth decried the “inadequate recognition, total negligence and lack of engagement.”
States
Plateau govt suspends VIO checkpoints over rising disagreements with motorists
Mr Jatau noted that recurring assaults on officers violate constitutional rights and threaten the hard-earned peace in the state.
Africa
Lai Mohammed urges African govts to turn MICE into $1.3 trillion deal-making engine
Mr Mohammed said the global MICE industry was worth about $1.3 trillion, while Africa accounted for only four per cent.
States
2027: SDP Reps candidate pledges to attract FG projects to constituency
Mr Akwashiki also pledged purposeful leadership if given the opportunity in 2027.
Abuja
Insecurity: NSCDC warns Nigerians against fake news, inflammatory social media posts
The commandant cautioned that spreading unverified media content harms Nigeria’s national image and endangers lives.
Politics
Accord guber candidate promises N500,000 minimum wage for Kebbi workers
The governorship hopeful lamented that workers have been exposed to trauma and untold hardship due to unpopular government policies.
