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FG Orders Withdrawal of Passports From Nigerians Who Renounce Citizenship
The Federal Government has directed the immediate withdrawal and deactivation of Nigerian passports held by individuals who have formally renounced their citizenship, in a move aimed at tightening identity control and safeguarding national documentation.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who instructed the Nigeria Immigration Service to enforce the policy without delay. According to a statement released by his media aide, Alao Babatunde, the order applies strictly to persons whose renunciation requests have been duly approved by the President.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the decision is anchored on provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulate that once a renunciation is registered, the individual ceases to be a Nigerian citizen and is no longer entitled to hold sovereign documents such as passports.
He noted that the measure is part of broader reforms within the ministry to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s identity management system. In recent years, authorities have intensified efforts to modernise passport issuance processes, improve border security, and curb identity fraud.
Officials say the latest directive addresses a long-standing loophole that allowed former citizens to retain and use Nigerian passports even after their legal status had changed. Security experts have warned that such gaps could be exploited for illegal travel, financial crimes, or other cross-border activities.
The move is also seen as aligning Nigeria with international best practices, where citizenship status is closely tied to access to national travel documents. Countries typically require individuals who renounce citizenship to surrender passports to prevent misuse.
Analysts say the policy could have implications for members of the Nigerian diaspora who acquire foreign citizenship and formally renounce their Nigerian status, particularly in countries that do not permit dual nationality.
The Interior Ministry, however, emphasised that the directive is not punitive but necessary to maintain the credibility of Nigeria’s passport system and ensure that only eligible citizens benefit from it.
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