The Federal Government on Saturday, April 11, ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service to withdraw and deactivate passports belonging to Nigerians who have renounced their citizenship.
This directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who stated that Nigerians who have completed the legal process of renouncing their citizenship are no longer entitled to hold Nigerian travel documents.
According to the minister, once citizenship is relinquished, the individual loses the legal right to possess any Nigerian sovereign document, including the passport.
He noted that retaining such documents after renunciation could compromise the integrity of the country’s identity system.
“The minister maintained that the Ministry of Interior, saddled with the responsibility of citizenship integrity, derives the power from the provisions of subsections (1) (2) of Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which states;
“(1) Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation.
The minister insisted that the directive aligns with ongoing passport and visa reforms aimed at strengthening border security, preventing identity fraud, and safeguarding the credibility of Nigerian citizenship.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that only eligible individuals have access to Nigerian travel documents, while also promoting secure and efficient travel systems.
