US-based Nigerian recounts spending over ₦1m to renew passport, Immigration Service reacts
U.S. Resident Claims Costly Delays in Nigerian Passport Renewal Process
ATLANTA – Sage Vincent Ike, a Nigerian residing in the United States, has alleged that he incurred expenses exceeding ₦1 million (approximately $1,300) while renewing his Nigerian passport due to administrative delays and repeated payments.
Ike detailed his experience in a series of posts on X, describing a frustrating four-month ordeal that disrupted his travel plans and resulted in significant financial losses. He applied for the passport renewal in March 2026, ahead of its expiration date in May, in preparation for trips to Japan, South Korea, and Nigeria.
According to Ike, his biometric appointment was set for March 19 at the Nigerian Consulate in Atlanta. However, after traveling approximately three hours from North Carolina, he arrived to find the consulate closed for the Eid-el-Fitr holiday, a closure he said was not communicated in advance.
“I drove three hours from North Carolina, only to arrive and discover the Consulate was closed for the Salah holiday,” he posted. “There was no email notification, no website update, and my appointment still showed March 19.”
Ike eventually completed his biometric capture on March 27, paying $230 for a 10-year passport, which included a fee for correcting an error in the arrangement of his names. He was later informed that he needed to pay an additional $50 for the passport to be mailed, despite providing a self-addressed envelope; this brought his total payment in the U.S. to $280.
Following this, he experienced months of delays without receiving the passport, despite multiple attempts to contact the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Frustrated, Ike sought assistance in Nigeria, spending an additional ₦460,000 in efforts to secure another passport prior to his travel.
Ike also claimed that a family friend was asked to pay $150 for the release of his passport, despite him having already authorized its collection. He later paid $176.35 through DHL for passport delivery to Nigeria, in addition to incurring costs for hotel stays, meals, and rescheduling flights.
Ike received his passport on July 22 and returned to the United States two days later. He expressed disappointment over the administrative inefficiencies that hindered his travel plans and caused emotional distress.
“The uncertainty, frustration, and helplessness of losing fully paid international trips due to these issues is overwhelming,” he stated.
In response to the allegations, the Nigeria Immigration Service expressed regret for the inconvenience and emotional distress experienced by Ike. The agency emphasized that duplicate passport applications are subject to strict verification processes to ensure the integrity of passport issuance.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service regrets the inconvenience and emotional distress this experience may have caused you. Kindly accept our sincere apologies,” the agency said in a post on X.
They also highlighted that the alleged $150 fee for third-party passport collection is illegal, advising applicants against engaging unauthorized parties. “A duly signed letter of authorization is sufficient for collection by an authorized representative,” the agency added.
