Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to withdraw passports from individuals who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship.
Speaking in Abuja, Tunji-Ojo emphasized that once a renunciation is approved and registered by President Bola Tinubu, the affected persons cease to be Nigerians and must no longer hold sovereign documents such as the Nigerian passport.
He cited Section 29 (1 & 2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the Ministry of Interior to enforce the withdrawal. According to him, the move is part of ongoing reforms to safeguard the integrity of Nigerian citizenship, strengthen border security, and prevent identity fraud.
“Citizenship integrity is paramount. Once renunciation is complete, the individual is no longer entitled to Nigerian documents. This directive ensures our immigration system reflects that reality,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
The minister further explained that the reforms are designed to secure Nigeria’s borders, preserve the sanctity of citizenship, and facilitate legitimate travel for Nigerians.
With this directive, the Immigration Service is expected to immediately deactivate passports belonging to former citizens, ensuring that only legitimate holders can access Nigerian travel documents.
