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.