Ugandan woman arrested at Lagos airport after paying $1,000 to procure Nigerian passport — Minister of Interior, Tunji-Ojo reveals
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has disclosed that a Ugandan woman was recently arrested at Lagos Airport after paying $1,000 to illegally obtain a Nigerian international passport.
Speaking at the Ministry of Interior’s mid-tenure performance retreat in Abuja on Thursday, the minister said the case reflects the level of abuse that once plagued the passport system before ongoing reforms.
“A Ugandan woman carrying a Nigerian passport was arrested at Lagos Airport after paying $1,000 to procure it. That cannot continue. Our passport must remain a true symbol of Nigerian identity,” he declared.
He noted that the fraudulent practice thrived under weak oversight and corrupt practices by some Passport Control Officers (PCOs), who wielded excessive power over approvals. According to him, such abuses have now been curtailed as approval powers have been centralised to eliminate human interference.
His comments came alongside the Federal Government’s announcement of new passport fees effective September 1, 2025, raising the 32-page, five-year passport to N100,000 and the 64-page, 10-year passport to N200,000 for local applicants.
