The Nigerian government has issued a fresh directive mandating the withdrawal and deactivation of passports belonging to individuals who have officially renounced their Nigerian citizenship.
The order was announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who instructed the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately enforce the measure. According to the directive, the policy applies strictly to individuals whose renunciation requests have been duly approved by the President.
The Minister emphasized that the move aligns with the legal provisions outlined in Section 29(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. Under the law, any Nigerian of full age may formally renounce their citizenship through a prescribed declaration. Once the President registers this declaration, the individual officially ceases to be a Nigerian citizen.
Speaking on the development, Tunji-Ojo clarified that individuals who no longer hold Nigerian citizenship are not entitled to possess national identity documents, including the Nigerian passport.
He stressed that retaining such documents after renunciation is inconsistent with the country’s legal and administrative framework.
The directive is part of broader reforms within the Ministry of Interior aimed at strengthening national security and identity management systems.
Authorities say the initiative will help safeguard the integrity of Nigerian citizenship, curb identity fraud, and ensure that only eligible individuals have access to official travel documents.
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The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing border security while facilitating legitimate travel for citizens. He noted that ongoing reforms are designed to improve efficiency, prevent misuse of national documents, and maintain the credibility of Nigeria’s immigration system.
