The Federal Government has directed the immediate withdrawal and deactivation of Nigerian passports held by individuals who have formally renounced their citizenship.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, issued the directive to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), stating that affected persons are those whose renunciation requests have been duly approved by the President.
According to the Minister, the move is in line with the provisions of Section 29, subsections (1) and (2), of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which stipulates the legal process for renouncing Nigerian citizenship.
He explained that once such declarations are registered by the President, the individual officially ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised that individuals who are no longer Nigerian citizens are not entitled to hold any sovereign documents of the country, including its passport.
He noted that the directive forms part of broader reforms in the nation’s passport and visa systems, aimed at strengthening identity management and national security.
“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 unauthorized or ineligible access,” the Minister stated.
The development signals the government’s renewed effort to enforce compliance with citizenship laws while safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s identity and travel documentation systems.
