The Federal Government has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to immediately withdraw and deactivate all passports held by individuals who have formally renounced their Nigerian nationality.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, issued the directive following the official approval of renunciation requests by the President. Once the renunciation process is complete, such individuals are barred from holding or using any Nigerian travel document.
In a statement, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Alao Babatunde, confirmed that the order is grounded in Section 29, subsections (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The provisions state: “Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation. The President shall cause the declaration made under subsection (1) of this section to be registered and upon such registration, the person who made the declaration shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria.”
Tunji-Ojo emphasised that anyone who loses Nigerian citizenship forfeits the right to carry any sovereign document of the state, including its passport.
The measure is part of broader passport and visa reforms spearheaded by the Ministry of Interior in recent years. The Minister described the move as essential to strengthening border security, curbing identity fraud, and preserving the integrity of Nigerian citizenship.
“We will continue to strengthen systems that secure Nigeria’s borders, prevent identity fraud, preserve the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship, and facilitate legitimate travel while preventing unauthorised or ineligible access,” he said.
