The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says the recently announced increase in passport fees will enhance quality, faster process and access.

Ibrahim Mohammed, the NIS comptroller in Adamawa, stated this on Monday in Yola at the inauguration of an exercise to sensitise the people of the state to the increase in the fees.

Mr Mohammed told the gathering that, effective September 1, applicants within Nigeria will pay ₦50,000 for a 32-page passport booklet with five years of validity, an increase from the previous ₦35,000 fee.

He said the 64-page passport booklet with ten years of validity will cost ₦100,000, up from ₦70,000.

However, Mr Mohammed added that the upward review will not affect applicants abroad.

Justifying the government’s decision, the comptroller said, “This is a new enhanced passport with better durability and quality, aligning with international standards.”

“It has fingerprints and with that, it is difficult to be faked or tampered with, unlike the old one,” he said.

He advised those intending to acquire or renew their passports to apply online or visit NIS offices and cautioned them against patronising agents to avoid being duped.

Mr Mohammed urged religious leaders to sensitise their followers to the development, adding that any applicant before the deadline would be charged the old rate.

He said the service would also extend the awareness to local government areas, starting with Mubi.

Joel Manzo and Aliyu Iya, representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Muslim Council, Adamawa, respectively, appreciated NIS’s enlightenment.

(NAN)