I Paid For My Nigerian Passport With $Hive

On the 28th of September I headed to the Nigerian Immigration Office in my locality to apply for a passport. I needed a valid means of identification and the NIN slip just wasn't it. I got a reminder from fiverr to verify my ID in order to continue using the platform and so I sold some hive and Vite to come up with the application fee for a passport. It amounted to about $100.

That's a lot compared to the fee stated on the official immigration site. Well, this is Nigeria, bribery and corruption has been normalized in government offices. The hike in the price couldn't be explained by anyone.

So I located the office, about 30 mins drive from my place. It's by an express road, kinda hidden so you'd barely notice there was something like a government office there.

I arrived at about 10am and was directed to where I filled an application form.

I filled in all of my details, attached my NIN slip, local government of origin certificate, birth certificate, guarantor's passport photocopy and guarantor's ID. I was told my birth certificate isn't valid because it's from a private hospital. There and then, a 'government approved' birth certificate was done for about $5. I still needed to back it up with my original birth certificate.

Afterwards, all of my details was computed in the system, I paid the fee and my file was taken to an office. I joined others in the waiting room.

I waited for so long, I became really hungry. I noticed people who had come after me were getting attended to. It seemed like there was some preferential treatment going on. I enquired and was told it'd get to my turn. I didn't want to leave to go get food even though I was very hungry. The officers were very mean and rude and wouldn't have minded skipping me entirely if I missed my turn.

Hours later, I was called into the first office and my documents were checked. The woman doubted my age, she thought I looked too small to be 25 years old. It was quite funny because in Nigeria people lie about being younger and not older. When she was done checking she asked for malt drink for the office, also stating that it could be monetized. I laughed it off, telling them to finish with my documents before I go out to get them drinks and I didn't have cash to give them either. I had no plans whatsoever to give them a dime.

I was sent back to the waiting room to wait for the next step, my file was meant to go to another office. Another wait began. I watched as more people were given preferential treatment, the officers in the office laughed and joked about with the files on their desks totally ignored. At some point they locked the office and went out to God knows where.

I probably would have been attended to swiftly if I had dropped some cash but that's not in my person. After about five hours of being at the waiting room, I was called into the next office for a short interview. I was asked questions about my documents and origin to confirm I truly am Nigerian. The officer said I was good to go and the capture was next.

30 mins later I was in the capture office waiting for my turn. I was given a scarf to tie around my neck because apparently, my neckline was too exposed for a passport photo. All of my data was captured also and I was done. Again, I was asked to 'drop something' for the office. And no, I didn't drop anything.

I was told the passport would be ready in a few days and I left the office at about 3:30pm. I was so tired and hungry I bought had donut and coke on my way home.

I got home at 5pm.

Four days later, I went back to the office. I met a long queue waiting to collect passports. It finally got to my turn about 30 mins later and guess what, I was asked to 'drop something' before collecting my passport. I was furious and fuming on the inside but had to mask it up with a smile. I told them I had nothing on me to give them. The lady said women are too stingy and would never drop something, again I laughed it off. I just wanted to collect the damn passport.

First I'm charged exorbitantly, double the actual fee, I spend my entire day being ignored, and you still want to be tipped? That's some illegal stuff, holding on to my passport and services you're paid to do. I'm supposed to tip you after keeping me there for hours and being rude?

Not today Felicia! I took my passport and left.

So that's my experience getting a passport, I verified my ID on fiverr and can take orders now. Check out my gig https://www.fiverr.com/s2/1f21b35881