Nigeria to Revoke Passports of Citizens Who Renounce Citizenship in New Immigration Directive

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a decisive move to withdraw and deactivate passports belonging to individuals who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship. The directive, aimed at strengthening national identity systems, was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

According to an official statement released through his media adviser, Alao Babatunde, the order has been communicated to the Nigeria Immigration Service for immediate enforcement. It applies specifically to individuals whose renunciation of citizenship has been formally approved and registered by the President, in line with constitutional provisions.

The minister explained that the directive is backed by Section 29(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines the legal process for renouncing Nigerian citizenship. Once the President registers such a declaration, the individual officially ceases to be a Nigerian citizen.

Tunji-Ojo emphasized that holding a Nigerian passport is a privilege reserved strictly for citizens. As such, anyone who has legally renounced their citizenship no longer has the right to possess or use the country’s sovereign travel document. The move is intended to address a longstanding gap that allowed some former citizens to continue traveling with Nigerian passports even after their status had changed.

He further noted that the decision aligns with ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s passport and visa systems, which are focused on enhancing border security, preventing identity fraud, and maintaining the integrity of national documentation. The government, he said, remains committed to building a more secure and efficient immigration framework that supports legitimate travel while restricting unauthorized access.

This latest development signals a stronger stance by the Nigerian government in safeguarding the value of its citizenship and ensuring that official documents are used only by those who are legally entitled to them.