The Federal Government has ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to withdraw and deactivate passports of individuals who have officially renounced their Nigerian citizenship.
The directive was given by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who explained that the decision only affects people whose renunciation has been formally approved by the President.
He said:
“The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports of Nigerians who have renounced their citizenship but still retain the documents.
This directive applies strictly to individuals whose renunciation requests have been formally approved by the President.”
The minister also explained that the action is backed by the law, specifically Section 29 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
According to the law:
“Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation.
The President shall cause the declaration made under subsection (1) of this section to be registered and upon such registration, the person who made the declaration shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria.”
He further stated that once a person is no longer a Nigerian citizen, they are not allowed to hold any official national document, including a Nigerian passport.
The statement added:
“He further noted that once a person ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria, such an individual is no longer entitled to possess any sovereign document of the country, including the Nigerian passport.”
The minister also said the move is part of ongoing passport and visa reforms by the Ministry of Interior.
He concluded:
“We will continue to strengthen systems that secure Nigeria’s borders, prevent identity fraud, preserve the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship, and facilitate legitimate travel while preventing unauthorized or ineligible access.”
