Nigeria Orders Passport Deactivation for Renounced Citizens

The Federal Government of Nigeria has mandated the immediate deactivation and withdrawal of passports for Nigerians who formally renounce their citizenship. This directive was issued by Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, and announced through a statement released on Saturday by his special adviser on media and public affairs, Babatunde Alao.

The order applies to Nigerians whose renunciation requests have received formal approval from President Bola Tinubu. According to the constitutional provisions outlined in Section 29(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), individuals who officially register their renunciation will lose their Nigerian citizenship status.

This move is part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening border security and preventing identity-related fraud. The government has not disclosed the number of Nigerians affected by this policy, which reflects ongoing efforts to tighten administrative control around identity and migration.

The directive comes amid recent upgrades within the Nigeria Immigration Service to address widespread complaints regarding delays in passport issuance.