In a move aimed at bolstering border security and enhancing the integrity of national identification, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to immediately deactivate and withdraw the passports of individuals who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship.
The directive, which takes effect immediately, was communicated in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Babatunde Alao.
Dr Tunji-Ojo clarified that the order applies specifically to individuals whose requests for renunciation have received formal approval from President Bola Tinubu. The Minister cited Section 29(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which mandates that declarations of renunciation must be registered by the President. Upon such registration, the individual officially ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria.
“Once a person ceases to be a citizen, they forfeit the right to hold sovereign documents, chief amongst which is the Nigerian passport,” the Minister stated. He emphasised that the possession of a national passport is a privilege reserved exclusively for citizens, and its retention by non-citizens poses a significant legal and security anomaly.
The Minister noted that this latest measure is a critical component of the federal government’s ongoing passport and visa reforms. These initiatives are designed to modernise the nation’s immigration framework, prevent identity fraud, and tighten border controls.
“We are unwavering in our commitment to securing Nigeria’s borders,” Dr Tunji-Ojo remarked. “Our objective is to ensure that only eligible citizens hold our travel documents, thereby enhancing the global standing and security of the Nigerian passport.”
The Nigeria Immigration Service has been tasked with ensuring the seamless implementation of this directive across all domestic and foreign missions. This move is expected to streamline the database of Nigerian passport holders and provide a clearer distinction between citizens and foreign nationals, particularly those of Nigerian descent who have opted for alternative nationalities.
The Ministry of Interior reaffirmed its resolve to continue implementing reforms that align Nigeria’s immigration policies with international best practices and the administration’s broader security agenda.
