Dare Babalola
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has responded to former Anambra Governor Peter Obi’s criticism of the recent increase in Nigerian international passport fees.
Obi, in a post on X on Thursday, had condemned the new fees, calling them excessive and burdensome for ordinary workers.
Responding to the former Anambra governor on Friday, Olayinka, on X, challenged Obi’s claim that the passport fees exceed the minimum wage, stating that the cost of passports has never been lower than the minimum wage in Nigeria.
He questioned whether passport fees should be considered part of everyday living costs.
The debate highlights the ongoing discussion about public service pricing and accessibility of essential documents in Nigeria, particularly in relation to workers’ income and cost-of-living concerns.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has justified the new fees as part of administrative and operational costs, while critics argue that they disproportionately affect low- and middle-income Nigerians.
