By Abraham Amah
For millions of Nigerians, securing or renewing an international passport is less a matter of documentation than a journey through stress, delay, and punishing expense. The process has improved in some respects—online applications, NIN verification, and contactless renewals abroad—but when compared with other countries, our passport still symbolizes friction rather than freedom.
The Nigerian Reality
In September 2025, Nigeria increased fees to ₦100,000 for a 32-page five-year booklet and ₦200,000 for a 64-page ten-year booklet. For context, the current national minimum wage is ₦30,000 a month. That means an average Nigerian worker must surrender more than three months’ wages for the smaller booklet, and nearly seven months’ wages for the larger one. Even when procedures run smoothly, many applicants still report variability in processing times, with diaspora offices faring better than domestic centres.
Ghana’s Reform Model
Ghana has shown what reform looks like. Its new chip-embedded passport carries a published service standard: 15 working days for regular applications and 5 working days for expedited ones. The proposed fee stands at GHS 350 (about ₦30,000). With Ghana’s minimum wage at roughly GHS 14.88 per day (around GHS 400 per month), a worker needs about one month’s wage to afford a passport—still heavy, but far lighter than Nigeria’s burden.
South Africa’s Honest Transparency
South Africa charges R600 (about ₦48,000) for a 32-page passport. With a minimum wage around R27 per hour and about R4,300 per month, the average worker spends less than two weeks’ wage on a passport. The drawback is time: applications abroad can take up to six months. Yet the fee is transparent, consistent, and proportionate to earnings.
Egypt’s Middle Ground
Egypt issues passports with a validity of seven years. Costs vary by mission, but typically stand near EGP 500–700 (about ₦15,000–₦20,000). With Egypt’s minimum wage now EGP 6,000 monthly, a passport costs less than one week’s wage. Processing is often faster than in Nigeria, though service quality differs by location.
United Kingdom: Predictability and Options
In the UK, an adult online passport application costs £94.50 (about ₦180,000). With the national minimum wage set at £11.44 per hour—roughly £1,830 per month—a worker pays just about five percent of monthly income for a passport. Processing usually takes about three weeks, with premium fast-track options available. Citizens can plan with certainty.
United States: Clarity and Choice
In the US, a standard adult passport book costs $130 (about ₦170,000). With the federal minimum wage at $7.25 per hour, or about $1,160 per month, this represents just over 11 percent of one month’s wage. Timelines are transparent: 4–6 weeks for routine service, 2–3 weeks expedited for an additional fee.
The Comparative Burden
Measured against minimum wage, the Nigerian passport is the costliest among these nations. Where an American, Briton, or South African gives up only days or weeks of earnings, the Nigerian surrenders months. This is not simply an inconvenience; it is a barrier to mobility, opportunity, and dignity.
The Path Forward
Nigeria’s government can learn from peers:
- Publish and meet service timelines as Ghana has done.
- Align costs to income realities, ensuring citizens do not pay seven months of wages for a basic travel document.
- Guarantee one fee, end-to-end, eliminating unofficial “facilitation.”
- Invest in capacity, matching staff and infrastructure to demand centres.
- Report performance data publicly, reinforcing trust and accountability.
Mobility is not a luxury. It is infrastructure for economic growth, academic exchange, and global engagement. Until Nigeria marries its digital ambition with predictable delivery at a fair, income-sensitive cost, the passport will remain not a gateway to the world, but a wall at our own borders.
Elder Amah, a prolific commentator on National issues writes from Umuahia, Abia State.
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