The Federal Government has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports issued to individuals who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and conveyed in a statement released on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Alao Babatunde.
According to the statement, the order applies to Nigerians whose renunciation of citizenship has been duly approved by the President in line with constitutional provisions.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the ministry’s action is anchored on Section 29(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which stipulates that any Nigerian who formally renounces citizenship and whose declaration is registered ceases to be a citizen of the country.
He noted that once an individual relinquishes Nigerian citizenship, such a person is no longer entitled to possess any sovereign document of the country, including a passport.
The minister added that the directive forms part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening the integrity of Nigeria’s passport and visa systems.
He said the measure was necessary to address existing gaps that allowed some former citizens to continue using Nigerian passports even after their renunciation had been officially recognised.
“We will continue to strengthen systems that secure Nigeria’s borders, prevent identity fraud, and preserve the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship, while facilitating legitimate travel,” the minister stated.
The development underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to tighten identity management and ensure compliance with legal provisions governing citizenship status.
