The Nigeria High Commission in the United Kingdom has announced plans to refund £50 to passport applicants who paid a £70 administrative fee during the ongoing passport intervention exercise.
The refund effectively reduces the administrative charge paid by affected applicants to £20.
The High Commission announced the decision in a notice published on its website on Friday, September 11, 2026, following protests and scrutiny over the £70 fee.
Controversial administrative charge
A £20 administrative fee had previously been introduced during the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari for a similar passport intervention exercise.
According to reports, the High Commission later imposed a £70 charge without approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while applicants seeking replacement passports after losing their documents were reportedly charged £150.
Officials involved in the exercise reportedly told TheCable that the additional payment was introduced to facilitate the process and “generate revenue”.
The development sparked complaints among Nigerians in the UK, with applicants raising concerns over the additional charges associated with accessing passport services.
Minister raises concerns
Following the complaints, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo expressed concern over difficulties surrounding the passport intervention exercise.
The minister also denied that applicants were required to pay separate administrative fees beyond the applicable passport charges.
In a statement issued on Friday, September 11, Nigeria Immigration Service spokesperson Akinsola Akinlabi said the official passport fees remained $162 for a five-year validity booklet and $242 for a 10-year validity booklet.
The High Commission’s decision to refund £50 means applicants who already paid the £70 administrative charge will effectively bear a £20 fee for the intervention exercise.