UK Passport Exercise: Nigerian Resident Counsels Applicants Against Unofficial Charges

A Nigerian support worker resident in the United Kingdom, Ken Obu, has urged Nigerians seeking to renew or obtain their international passports in the UK to rely strictly on official government platforms, following reports of alleged additional charges during the ongoing special passport intervention exercise.

Obu, who spoke on his experience with the exercise, said he did not encounter any demand for the alleged additional £70 charge after following the instructions provided on the official website.

According to him, applicants should take time to understand the requirements and payment procedures published by the Nigerian authorities before proceeding with their applications.

“I followed the directive on the official website and I did not experience that,” Obu said, stressing that Nigerians should be wary of relying on information from unofficial sources.

His comments come against the backdrop of concerns raised by some Nigerians in the UK over alleged additional payments being demanded from applicants participating in the passport intervention exercise.

The federal government had earlier denied introducing any new or compulsory charge for the special intervention exercise.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, clarified the government’s position following reports that applicants were being asked to pay an additional £70, maintaining that no such new charge had been introduced by the Federal Government.

However, the Nigeria High Commission in London’s current requirements for the September 2026 intervention exercise stipulate a £20 administrative payment. It also states that applicants whose passports have been lost, misplaced or damaged are required to pay £150.

The distinction has generated confusion among applicants, making reliance on official information particularly important.

The special passport intervention exercise, being conducted by the Nigerian Immigration Service in collaboration with the Nigeria High Commission, is currently taking place across selected UK cities.

The exercise runs in Manchester from September 7 to 21, London from September 7 to October 3, while Cardiff and Aberdeen are scheduled for September 21 to 26.

For Obu, the experience underscores the need for applicants to avoid relying on hearsay or unofficial agents when dealing with passport applications.

He advised Nigerians in the UK to visit the official platforms of the Nigerian authorities, carefully follow the published instructions and confirm any payment requirements before making transactions.

The intervention exercise is part of efforts by the Nigerian authorities to ease passport processing for Nigerians in the diaspora and address challenges associated with accessing passport services.