The payment platform for passport applications has suffered technical difficulties a day after the fees were hiked, the Nigeria Immigration Service has confirmed.
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Common issues include problems verifying their National Identification Number (NIN) due to connectivity failures with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) servers and unexpected rescheduling of appointment dates to later times, causing further complications.
“Technical hitches with online payment platform.
“We apologise for the downtime being experienced with online applications on our Passport Service windows.
“The Service is assuring the public that within the shortest possible time, seamless service will be restored. All inconveniences this may have caused are highly regretted.
“Please bear with us,” the NIS said in a statement on Friday.
The NIS had last Wednesday officially announced an upward review of passport fees for Nigerians residing within the country, effective from September 1st, 2024.
It said it was part of the government’s broader efforts to maintain and enhance the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport, ensuring that it meets international standards and continues to serve as a credible identification document for Nigerian citizens.
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The announcement was made in a statement released by DCI KT Udo, the Service Public Relations Officer at the Service Headquarters of the NIS.
The cost for a 32-page passport booklet with a five-year validity will increase from N35,000 to N50,000, while the 64-page passport booklet with a ten-year validity will rise from N70,000 to N100,000.
