The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized the Federal Government’s decision to raise the cost of obtaining an international passport, warning that the new charges place an unbearable burden on struggling Nigerians.
In a post on his official X handle on Thursday, Obi described the administration’s repeated increases in essential service costs as “legendary” and harmful to citizens already grappling with economic hardship.
The Federal Government earlier announced that a 32-page international passport booklet will now cost ₦100,000, while a 64-page booklet has been pegged at ₦200,000.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said the hike was particularly troubling when compared with the newly approved national minimum wage of ₦70,000. He stressed that the cost of securing a single passport has now surpassed the monthly salary of an average Nigerian worker.
“Instead of making life easier, the government keeps shifting the burden onto ordinary Nigerians,” he said, adding that it was “alarming that the price of the international passport is higher than what workers earn in a month.”
The fee hike has already sparked outrage among citizens, with many questioning the government’s priorities at a time of rising inflation and high unemployment. Critics argue that the move will further isolate Nigerians from global opportunities, especially students, workers, and business owners seeking to travel abroad.
Obi’s remarks come amid growing debate on government policies that have increased the cost of living since 2023. The latest passport fee hike adds to public discontent as citizens await measures that can ease economic pressure rather than deepen it.