President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports belonging to individuals who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship, in a move aimed at reinforcing the country’s legal and administrative control over its citizenship system.
The directive, communicated through the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, underscores the government’s position that Nigerian passports are strictly reserved for citizens and must not be retained or used by individuals who have legally ceased to hold that status. Authorities emphasized that the passport is not merely a travel document but a symbol of national identity and allegiance, issued under the sovereign authority of the Nigerian state.
Under Section 29 of the Constitution of Nigeria, any Nigerian citizen of full age who wishes to renounce their citizenship must make a formal declaration, which only takes effect upon registration and approval by the President. Once that process is completed, the individual is no longer recognized as a citizen of Nigeria and consequently loses all rights, privileges, and protections associated with that status, including the right to possess a Nigerian passport.
Government officials explained that the new directive is designed to address gaps in enforcement that previously allowed some individuals who had renounced their citizenship to continue holding valid Nigerian passports. Such situations, according to the authorities, create legal inconsistencies and potential security vulnerabilities, particularly in an era where identity verification and border control are critical components of national security.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has therefore been instructed to act swiftly by not only retrieving physical passports from affected individuals but also ensuring their immediate deactivation within the country’s digital immigration systems. This means that any attempt to use such passports for international travel or identification purposes would be automatically flagged and denied at border checkpoints.
Officials further clarified that retaining a Nigerian passport after renouncing citizenship is considered unlawful, as it constitutes the continued use of a sovereign document without legal entitlement. The government views this as a serious issue that could undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s travel documentation and complicate international cooperation on immigration and security matters.
The policy forms part of a broader reform agenda within the Ministry of Interior aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s immigration framework, tightening documentation processes, and preventing identity fraud. In recent years, the government has introduced several measures to enhance the integrity of its passport system, including biometric upgrades and stricter verification procedures, and this latest action is seen as a continuation of those efforts.
While Nigeria permits dual citizenship for individuals by birth, the situation differs for those who voluntarily renounce their nationality. Once renunciation is completed and recognized, the individual is treated as a foreign national in the eyes of Nigerian law, with no entitlement to national documents or privileges. As such, the continued possession of a Nigerian passport after renunciation contradicts both legal provisions and administrative policy.
Analysts note that the directive sends a clear message about the seriousness with which the government intends to protect the sanctity of its citizenship and identity systems. It also aligns Nigeria with international best practices, where countries maintain strict controls over the issuance and retention of passports to ensure that only legitimate citizens benefit from them.
The development is expected to prompt a review of existing records within the immigration system, as authorities work to identify individuals affected by the directive and ensure full compliance. It may also raise awareness among Nigerians abroad about the legal implications of renouncing citizenship, particularly regarding the immediate loss of rights tied to national identity.
With this move, the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu is reinforcing its commitment to strengthening governance, improving national security, and ensuring that the privileges of Nigerian citizenship are reserved exclusively for those who legally hold that status.
