The Federal Government has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to immediately withdraw and deactivate Nigerian passports held by individuals who have formally renounced their citizenship, in a sweeping move aimed at tightening national identity and travel controls.
The directive applies strictly to persons whose renunciation of Nigerian citizenship has been officially approved by the president, following completion of due legal processes.
The order was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who stated that once a person ceases to be a Nigerian citizen, they automatically lose the right to hold any sovereign document issued by the country, including an international passport.
The ministry explained that the decision is grounded in Section 29(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the legal procedure for renouncing citizenship and confirms that such renunciation becomes effective upon presidential registration.
According to the Interior Ministry, the directive is part of broader reforms designed to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s passport system and prevent misuse of national travel documents.
Officials said the measure is also intended to close existing loopholes that previously allowed former citizens to continue using Nigerian passports even after their renunciation had been approved. The government stressed that the policy will help preserve the credibility of Nigeria’s identity management system while reinforcing border security.
The ministry further explained that the Nigeria Immigration Service has been instructed to immediately identify affected individuals, deactivate their passports in the national database, and ensure that such documents can no longer be used for international travel.
Authorities said the move aligns with ongoing digital reforms in the passport issuance and verification system, which aim to improve accuracy, reduce fraud, and strengthen coordination between citizenship records and travel documentation.
Officials added that the policy is not targeted at restricting lawful migration or dual nationality arrangements permitted under the law, but rather at ensuring strict compliance with constitutional provisions governing citizenship status.
The government maintained that anyone who has formally renounced Nigerian citizenship must fully disengage from all privileges attached to it, including the possession of a Nigerian passport.
The Interior Ministry reiterated that the decision is consistent with its ongoing efforts to modernise immigration processes and safeguard the country’s borders against fraud and unauthorised access. It added that the reforms are designed to ensure that only eligible citizens retain access to Nigerian travel documents, while reinforcing accountability within the citizenship management system.
Authorities assured the public that implementation will be carried out in a structured and lawful manner, with due verification to ensure that only duly renounced citizens are affected. The government also pledged continued investment in technology-driven systems to support real-time verification of citizenship status across relevant agencies.
