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Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has condemned the recent hike in International Passport fees, calling it yet another burden on ordinary Nigerians. In a post on his official X handle, Obi expressed his concerns over the government’s obsession with imposing financial hardships on the populace.
The Federal Government’s announcement on Thursday revealed that the cost of a 32-page passport booklet has now risen to N100,000, while the 64-page version is priced at N200,000. Obi criticized the fee increase, especially in a country where the new minimum wage is only N70,000 per month. He highlighted that the cost of obtaining a passport now exceeds the monthly salary of many workers.
In his post, Obi lamented, “Instead of making life easier, the government keeps shifting the burden onto ordinary Nigerians.” He expressed alarm over how the price of the passport has become unaffordable for many citizens, emphasizing that it is now higher than what workers earn in a full month.
Obi’s comments come amid growing concerns over rising living costs in Nigeria, with many arguing that government policies continue to place financial strain on average citizens, while wages remain stagnant.
