By Adesakin Adefemi
The Federal Government of Nigeria has ordered the immediate withdrawal and deactivation of Nigerian passports from individuals who have officially renounced their citizenship.
This directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who instructed the Nigeria Immigration Service to enforce the move without delay.
According to the Minister, the decision applies strictly to persons whose renunciation requests have been formally approved by the President, in line with the provisions of Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
This means that once a person ceases to be a Nigerian citizen, they are no longer entitled to hold any sovereign document of the country, including a Nigerian passport.
The withdrawal of passports is part of ongoing reforms aimed at protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s citizenship system, preventing identity fraud, and strengthening border security.
The move is also linked to broader passport and visa reforms being implemented by the Ministry of Interior to ensure that only eligible individuals have access to Nigerian travel documents.
To renounce Nigerian citizenship, individuals must meet certain requirements, including being of full age (18 years and above), having acquired or likely to acquire another citizenship, and having no criminal or financial liability to the state.
The renunciation process typically takes several months, and the President has the sole authority to approve or deny applications. Once approved, the individual’s Nigerian passport is nullified, and they are no longer entitled to Nigerian citizenship rights and privileges.
Nigerians who renounce their citizenship may still be able to visit or reside in Nigeria through special visa categories, such as the F9A Returning Nigerian by Birth Visa or the N2A Nigerian by Birth who Renounced Nigerian Citizenship Visa.
The Federal Government’s decision to withdraw passports from Nigerians who renounce their citizenship is aimed at maintaining the integrity of the country’s citizenship system and preventing abuse of Nigerian travel documents.
