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Economy

SERAP Urges FG To Reverse Passport Fees Hike

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SERAP Urges FG To Reverse Passport Fees Hike

SERAP urges FG to reverse passport fees hike. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap to immediately reverse the “arbitrary, unlawful, and excessive” passport fees announced during the week.

SERAP described the passport fees increase as discriminatory towards millions of socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians.

The civil society organisation made the call in a letter dated August 30, 2025, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

SERAP maintained that the high fees constitute discriminatory denial of access to passports for millions of socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians and impose unlawful restrictions on their citizenship rights.

It also stated that millions of disadvantaged Nigerians cannot realistically afford these new fees.

The group insisted that Nigerians should not be forced to divert their limited and inadequate incomes to pay these fees that they should use for their basic living needs.

SERAP argued that the Minister of Interior and the NIS Comptroller General must comply with the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations in fulfilling their constitutional and statutory duties.

The organisation stated that the Minister and Comptroller General of the NIS have a legal responsibility to balance imposing excessive passport fees and safeguarding citizens’ rights.

It stressed that Nigerians who cannot afford the excessive fees will be denied effective enjoyment of their citizenship rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and relevant human rights treaties to which the country is a party.

“The unreasonable and disproportionate hike in passport fees conflicts with the provisions of Chapters 2 and 4 of the Nigerian Constitution, which address fundamental objectives, directive principles of state policy, and fundamental rights.

“The excessive fees will create disproportionate financial burdens on poor Nigerians. The Minister of Interior and the Comptroller General of the NIS have failed to evaluate the impact of these heightened fees in light of the financial struggles facing millions of Nigerians amid growing economic challenges.

“The Minister of Interior and the Comptroller General of the NIS acted unlawfully by arbitrarily increasing the passport fees. Their actions undermine the fundamental rights of Nigerians by unlawfully raising these costs,” SERAP stated.

It added that the recommended measures be implemented within seven days of receiving and/or publishing this letter.

“Should we not hear from you by then, SERAP will pursue all appropriate legal actions to compel your government, the Minister, and the Comptroller General to comply with our request in the public interest.

“The unlawful increase in passport fees, when the country grapples with economic and financial crises, would further contribute to the population’s impoverishment.

SERAP Sues Tinubu

SERAP

“The increased fees would also infringe on Nigerians’ rights to travel or leave their country, including their right to obtain necessary travel documents. The Minister of Interior and the Comptroller General of the NIS have failed to adequately justify the fee increases,” the statement added.

LEADERSHIP reports that the NIS had on Thursday, August 28, 2025, announced an upward review of passport fees, effective from September 1, 2025.

Under the new rates, applications made in Nigeria, which previously cost N50,000 for a 32-page booklet with a five-year validity will now cost N100,000.

Additionally, the 64-page passport, valid for ten years, will increase from N100,000 to N200,000.

SERAP recalled that in September 2024, the NIS also raised the cost of the 32-page passport from N35,000 to N50,000 and the 64-page passport from N70,000 to N100,000.

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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