Nigeria to Revoke Passports of Renounced Citizens

The Nigerian government has initiated a move to revoke the passports of citizens who have formally renounced their nationality. This directive comes from the Ministry of Interior, under the leadership of Minister Olubunmi Tunji Ojo.

The Nigeria Immigration Service has been instructed to immediately withdraw and deactivate the passports of individuals whose renunciation of Nigerian citizenship has received formal approval from the President. The Ministry emphasizes that the process is strictly applicable to those who have completed the necessary formalities as outlined in Section 29, subsections 1 and 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Once an individual ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria, they are no longer entitled to possess any sovereign documents from the country, including a Nigerian passport. This directive aligns with ongoing reforms in passport and visa issuance aimed at strengthening border security, preventing identity fraud, and preserving the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship.