By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Federal Government has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to withdraw and deactivate international passports held by Nigerians who have formally renounced their citizenship.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who stated that the measure applies strictly to individuals whose renunciation requests have been officially approved by the President.
According to the minister, the decision is grounded in provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulate that any Nigerian who completes the legal process of renouncing citizenship ceases to be a citizen upon registration of that declaration.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised that such individuals are no longer entitled to hold Nigerian travel documents, describing passports as sovereign property that can only be used by citizens of the country.
The government said the move is part of broader efforts to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s citizenship system, prevent identity fraud, and ensure that only eligible persons have access to official travel documents.
Officials also noted that the directive aims to close existing gaps that previously allowed some individuals who had renounced their nationality to continue using Nigerian passports.
The development is the latest in a series of reforms by the Interior Ministry targeting passport administration and border security, as authorities seek to tighten controls around citizenship and migration processes.
