The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to immediately withdraw and deactivate Nigerian passports held by individuals who have formally renounced their citizenship.
The directive, announced on Friday, applies to persons whose renunciation requests have been duly approved and registered by the President, in accordance with constitutional provisions.
Tunji-Ojo stated that the decision is anchored on Section 29(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which provides the legal framework for renouncing Nigerian citizenship.
Under the law, any citizen of full age may declare their intention to renounce citizenship, and upon registration of such declaration by the President, the individual ceases to be a Nigerian citizen.
The Minister emphasised that once citizenship is relinquished, the individual is no longer entitled to hold any sovereign document of the Nigerian state, including the national passport.
“This measure is critical to preserving the integrity of our citizenship system,” he said, adding that retaining a Nigerian passport after renunciation constitutes a violation of legal and administrative protocols.
He noted that the directive aligns with ongoing passport and visa reforms by the Ministry of Interior aimed at strengthening national security and improving identity management systems.
“We will continue to reinforce mechanisms that secure Nigeria’s borders, prevent identity fraud, safeguard the sanctity of our citizenship, and at the same time facilitate legitimate travel,” Tunji-Ojo added.
The directive is expected to enhance the credibility of Nigeria’s travel documents and ensure that only eligible citizens enjoy the rights and privileges associated with Nigerian nationality.
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