PASSPORT: UK MISSION CLARIFIES £70 FEE, ANNOUNCES £50 REFUND

Read Time:1 Minute, 43 Second

By: Muftau Fatimo

The Nigeria High Commission in London has clarified that the £70 administrative fee paid by some Nigerians participating in the ongoing passport intervention exercise was not authorised by the Federal Government.

The mission maintained that the approved administrative fee for the exercise remains £20.

The clarification came a day after the High Commission announced that applicants who had paid the £70 fee would receive a £50 refund, leaving the standard £20 charge.

In a notice published on its website, the mission stated: “This is to inform all passport intervention applicants who have paid a £70 admin fee that £50 will be refunded to you, £20 being the standard admin fee.”

In a fresh public notice dated Friday, September 11, and signed by the Nigeria High Commission in London, the mission said it was compelled to clarify the issue following reports and commentaries circulating over the charges associated with the passport intervention exercise.

The intervention exercise, which was initially scheduled to end on September 19, has now been extended to October 3 in London and Manchester because of the high turnout of applicants.

The NIS said 1,477 Nigerians had been successfully processed and enrolled within the first four days of the exercise, with more than half of the passports already produced and dispatched to applicants.

The exercise has, however, been accompanied by complaints from Nigerians in the UK over passport processing, charges and operational difficulties.

The media had earlier reported complaints from Nigerians over delays and challenges in passport processing at the Nigerian High Commission in London. Some applicants also expressed concerns about inadequate communication channels and difficulties contacting the mission.

However, in its latest statement, the High Commission distanced itself from publications and commentaries containing what it described as inaccurate or misleading information.

According to the mission, such reports “did not emanate from the Mission,” urging members of the public to disregard information that was not issued through its authorised communication channels.

The High Commission reaffirmed its commitment to providing efficient and effective services to members of the public.