The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports belonging to Nigerians who have formally renounced their citizenship.
The directive, according to the minister, applies strictly to individuals whose renunciation of Nigerian citizenship has been duly approved by President.
Tunji-Ojo explained that once such approval is granted and a citizen legally ceases to be Nigerian, the individual is no longer entitled to hold any Nigerian sovereign document, including the international passport.
He referenced provisions of Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines the legal process for renunciation of citizenship and states that the President must register the declaration before it becomes effective.
“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,” the minister noted, citing the constitutional framework.
In a statement issued by the ministry, the minister stressed that the move is part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s passport and visa administration systems.
He added that the government would continue to tighten border security, prevent identity fraud, and ensure that only eligible persons have access to Nigerian travel documents.
According to him, the policy is also designed to enhance legitimate travel processes while blocking unauthorized or ineligible access to national identification systems.
The ministry linked the latest directive to ongoing reforms within the immigration sector, which also include enhanced collaboration with international partners on migration management and border security.
This development comes weeks after Nigeria signed migration and security agreements with the United Kingdom during President Tinubu’s official visit, aimed at improving border control and addressing immigration-related crimes.
The minister said the broader reforms are intended to create a more secure, transparent, and rules-based immigration system aligned with international standards.
