The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it will commence issuance of the new passport in the Federal Capital Territory from March 4.

Sunday James, the public relations officer of NIS, made this known in a statement released on Monday.

It will be recalled that the new e-passport was officially launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, January 16.

He said that the cost of 32-page five-year standard passport stood at N25,000, 64-page five-year standard passport at N 35,000, 64-paged 10-year standard passport at N70,000.

At present, it costs N17,000 to get the 32-paged passport with five years validity and N22,000 for the 64-paged passport with five years validity.

According to James, the existing passport booklet will run concurrently with the newly enhanced passport booklet until the former expires.

He said that the passport will be available in Ikoyi, Lagos on March 25; Kano, April 1; Alausa, Lagos April 8 and London, United Kingdom April 15.

The phase two multiple roll-outs in New York, Washington, Atlanta, USA on April 22 while other locations, local and abroad, would follow in sequence from April 29.

Listing the advantages of the new passport, James said people can track their applications and there would be express centres for urgent application.

Other advantages he said included weather friendliness, compliance with the latest ICAO standard, polycarbonate technology that reduced incidences of damage.

“We urge Nigerians to take advantage of the reforms, avoid patronising third party or touts and utilise the online platforms provided by the service for their passport application,” he said.