The recent increase in passport fees is unlikely to deter the growing trend of skilled workers leaving the country, according to a former ambassador.

Former Nigerian ambassadors have expressed that the recent increase in passport fees will not alleviate the japa syndrome but will instead exacerbate the difficulties faced by the populace.

The Nigeria Immigration Service has announced a 100 percent hike in passport fees, effective September 1, 2024, aimed at enhancing the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport system.

According to the NIS, the cost of a 32-page passport booklet with a five-year validity has risen from N35,000 to N50,000, while the price for a 64-page passport booklet with a ten-year validity has increased from N70,000 to N100,000.

Yemi Farounbi, a former ambassador to the Philippines, noted that while the fee increase may be warranted due to rising inflation, it will ultimately worsen the economic challenges faced by citizens.

The former ambassador said, “There is nothing whose price has not gone up in the last one year. Unfortunately, the poor people are the carriers of this burden so rather than ease the burden on the common man or the average Nigerian, we have only added to it. Increasing the cost of passports by almost 100 per cent or thereabouts will not discourage those who want to leave because they are being pulled by stronger forces than the cost of passports.”

Furthermore, a former Nigerian Consul to Cameroon, Rasheed Akinkuolie, emphasized the existence of more pressing matters requiring governmental attention. He suggested that the current economic climate, characterized by widespread insecurity and high inflation leading to increased prices, should be prioritized over passport fee increments.