The Federal Government has directed the immediate withdrawal and deactivation of Nigerian passports held by individuals who have officially renounced their citizenship.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who instructed the Nigeria Immigration Service to enforce the decision without delay.
According to a statement released by the minister’s media aide, the order applies strictly to individuals whose renunciation of Nigerian citizenship has been formally approved and registered by the President, in line with constitutional provisions.
Government officials explained that the move is anchored on Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which stipulates that any citizen who completes the legal process of renunciation ceases to be a Nigerian upon registration of the declaration by the President.
The Ministry of Interior emphasised that once citizenship is relinquished, the legal right to hold a Nigerian passport automatically becomes invalid. As such, the withdrawal of passports is considered a necessary administrative step to uphold the integrity of the nation’s official documents.
The minister noted that the policy forms part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening identity management and border security systems across the country. He added that the government remains committed to safeguarding the credibility of Nigerian citizenship while ensuring that travel documents are issued only to eligible individuals.
“We will continue to strengthen systems that secure Nigeria’s borders, prevent identity fraud, and preserve the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship,” the minister stated.
The development signals a stricter enforcement approach by authorities as Nigeria intensifies efforts to curb identity-related irregularities and enhance the credibility of its passport system.
