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According to the source, the decision to accommodate significantly more applicants than the agreed daily capacity created congestion and contributed to the difficulties being experienced by applicants at the intervention centres.
An official at the Nigeria High Commission in the United Kingdom has accused the mission of allegedly exploiting Nigerians seeking to obtain or renew their passports by imposing a £70 charge on applicants and allegedly selling appointment slots beyond the daily capacity agreed for the ongoing special passport intervention exercise.The official, who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, stated that the arrangement had resulted in Nigerians being made to pay additional sums for passport services, describing the practice as “extortion and nothing more.”
The allegations come amid growing complaints by Nigerians in the United Kingdom over delays, appointment difficulties and charges associated with the special passport intervention exercise being conducted by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in collaboration with the Nigeria High Commission.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu approved the posting of Aminu Muhammad Dalhatu to the United Kingdom in March 2026, and the British Government subsequently granted him agrément. Dalhatu later formally assumed office as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK.
The source explained that the original arrangement was for the immigration authorities to process a maximum of 90 applicants per day, but claimed that the High Commission subsequently began issuing or selling appointments beyond that capacity.
“90 people were supposed to come in per day, but they started selling appointment slots,” the source said.
“And almost 300 people coming in. It’s extortion and nothing more.”
According to the source, the decision to accommodate significantly more applicants than the agreed daily capacity created congestion and contributed to the difficulties being experienced by applicants at the intervention centres.
The official claimed that the Immigration Service had initially agreed to handle only 90 applicants daily.
“So, after everything was agreed, Immigration said they would be able to take 90 people at once. So, they came and handled it that way.
“They said only 90 max per day. But the High Commission started selling slots for people to come there.
“They then started selling the appointments on the black market. They would give people appointments for almost three hundred.”
The source further noted that applicants were subsequently subjected to additional charges.
“So, they went around collecting money from people. They started surcharging them. You understand?”
The most serious allegation concerns the £70 charge attached to the intervention exercise.
The source stated that the charge had no legitimate basis and claimed that the money ultimately went into the pocket of the High Commissioner.
“People should not pay that money. People should rebel and refuse to pay that money because that money is extortion by the Nigerian High Commission.”
The official insisted that applicants were not disputing the statutory passport fees but were questioning the additional £70 charge.
“If you see what people are complaining about online, you will understand. Okay. If you see what people are shouting about online, you will see that the statutory fee—people are not disputing the statutory fee.
The source added:“That seventy pounds—go to—the ambassador’s pocket is where it goes directly.”
The official further claimed that the normal passport application payment was supposed to be made online through the Nigeria Immigration Service system.
“Because the original payment is supposed to be made online. Paid online.
“So, that is on the portal that they are supposed to pay the money. It is on the NIS [Nigeria Immigration Service] portal that they are supposed to pay the money.
“It is the normal renewal for everybody who is abroad.
“So, anybody who renews it, the money they normally pay is that same amount.
“But then they started charging them a separate amount. A separate amount.
“Because there is no basis for that money—for that money he is charging.”
However, an examination of the Nigeria High Commission’s official website by SaharaReporters shows that the mission itself currently lists a £70 payment for applicants participating in the September 2026 Special Passport Intervention Exercise.
The High Commission’s website states that the exercise is being conducted by the Nigeria Immigration Service in collaboration with the Nigeria High Commission in four UK locations.
The website instructs applicants attending the exercise to come with a £70 postal order payable to the Nigeria High Commission or make payment through its electronic payment system.
It separately lists a £150 charge for lost, misplaced or damaged passports.
Federal Government Says No Additional Charges Beyond Official Passport Fees
The controversy has become more significant following a statement attributed to the Federal Government on Monday concerning the special intervention exercise.
The Federal Government clarified that Nigerians participating in the ongoing passport intervention exercise in the United Kingdom are not required to pay charges beyond the official passport fees.
According to the statement by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Interior on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the official fees remain $150 for a five-year passport and $230 for a 10-year passport, excluding applicable bank charges.
The statement reportedly stressed that neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigeria Immigration Service had introduced additional charges for the intervention exercise.
The Minister’s media aide also said consultations were ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address inconveniences experienced by applicants during the exercise.
Applicants were additionally advised to take advantage of the contactless biometric passport application system.
SOURCE:SAHARA REPORTERS
