The Nigeria Immigration Service has said the service still charges same rate for e-passports in and outside the country.
Public Relations Officer of the service, Mr. Emeka Obua, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja that there was no hike in fees for obtaining e-passports.
He explained that the price for obtaining a Nigerian passport and other immigration services were the same within and outside the country.
Obua said that those obtaining these services outside the country may experience a slight difference because they were charged according to the foreign currency obtained in the country they resided.
“The rate for obtaining an e-passport is equivalent to the foreign rate obtained in the country where the person resides.
“It is the exchange rate that determines how the passport costs.
“The rate for obtaining our services is the same everywhere, but anyone outside the country will be charged according to the hard currency obtained there,’’ said the spokesman.
Obua said the service had sent 24 officers to various embassies to ease the process of obtaining all immigration services, like visa and passport, outside the country.
He said the policy was to ease the difficulties experienced by Nigerians in Diaspora and foreigners in obtaining these services because the service was yet to man its desk at some Nigerian embassies.
He assured that the service would commence implementation of issuing the new e-passport launched by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The spokesman urged Nigerians to cooperate with the service to ensure its smooth implementation.
“The issuance of the new travel document has commenced and will be used side-by-side the existing 32-page e-passport.
“This new travel document which has 64 pages now cost N20,000, but those under 18 years and those above 60 years can obtain it for N8,750.
“The new passport has security features to forestall identity theft, accommodate frequent travellers, take care of low income earners and the aged, and is gender friendly,” he said.
The Federal Government on July 29 launched the new 64-page e-passport as part of its commitment to give seamless service delivery to Nigerians locally and internationally.
