Danjuma Amodu | January 21, 2026
On Tuesday morning, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji‑Ojo posted on his X account that he had “paid an unscheduled visit to both the Gwagwalada and Sauka passport offices,” using the tour to gauge the impact of recent reforms and to push for faster, more transparent service delivery.
During the unannounced inspection, he walked through the VIP and Children’s section, questioned why applicants were still waiting hours after the 8 a.m. opening, and warned staff against charging “diesel or paper” fees, insisting that Nigerians have already paid for their passports in full.
He stressed that each enrolment should take about three minutes and demanded that enrolment and biometric capturing run simultaneously, rather than one after the other, to cut waiting times. Officers admitted that operations only began around 9 a.m. after the generator was powered on, a delay the Minister called “unacceptable” and a waste of people’s precious time.
Tunji‑Ojo also faulted the under‑use of the VIP/Children area, suggesting it could be opened to redirect crowds and ease congestion.
He reminded immigration officers that “Nigeria has no VIP” and that wearing the uniform is a “uniform of sacrifice,” urging them to serve with efficiency and fairness. His remarks have sparked a wave of online commentary, with many citizens applauding the surprise visit as a much‑needed step toward accountability in public service.
As part of the reform to sustain the “enhanced e‑passport” ecosystem, the Nigerian Immigration Service for the second time after 2023 announced a 100 % jump in passport prices effective 1 September 2025, where applications made in Nigeria now cost ₦100,000 for the 32‑page, 5‑year passport and ₦200,000 for the 64‑page, 10‑year passport, while diaspora fees remain at $150 and $230 respectively.
The government says the hike will “uphold the quality and integrity of the Nigerian passport” and finance faster, more secure service delivery, though critics argue the steep increase hits low‑income citizens hard and lacks transparent cost breakdowns.
