The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports held by individuals who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship.
The directive, according to the Ministry, specifically applies to former citizens whose renunciation requests have been duly approved by the President, in line with constitutional provisions.
Constitutional Backing for Action
The Minister explained that the move is grounded in the provisions of Section 29 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines the legal process for renouncing Nigerian citizenship.
The section states that:
“Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner… and upon registration by the President, the person shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria.”
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that once citizenship is legally renounced and confirmed, such individuals lose all rights tied to Nigerian nationality, including possession of official travel documents.
Loss of Rights to Sovereign Documents
The Minister stressed that former citizens are no longer entitled to hold Nigerian passports or any sovereign identification documents.
“Once a person ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria, he can no longer carry any sovereign document of Nigeria, including the Nation’s passport,” the Minister stated.
Part of Broader Immigration Reforms
The directive is part of ongoing passport and visa reforms spearheaded by the Ministry of Interior in recent years. These reforms aim to strengthen national security and streamline identity management systems.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Tunji-Ojo stated:
“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.”
Strengthening Citizenship Integrity
The Ministry noted that the decision underscores its mandate to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s citizenship framework, ensuring that only eligible individuals retain access to official national documents.
The directive was communicated in a statement issued on April 10, 2026, by Alao Babatunde, Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Interior.
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