RismadarVoice Reporters, April 11, 2026
The Federal Government has directed the immediate withdrawal and deactivation of Nigerian passports held by individuals who have formally renounced their citizenship.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and is to be implemented by the Nigeria Immigration Service.
According to a statement released by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Babatunde Alao, the policy specifically targets persons whose renunciation of Nigerian citizenship has been duly approved by the President.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the decision is grounded in constitutional provisions, noting that individuals who renounce their citizenship automatically forfeit their status as Nigerians and, by extension, their entitlement to national identification documents, including passports.
He emphasized that the measure forms part of broader reforms by the government to safeguard the integrity of Nigerian citizenship. The initiative, he said, is also aimed at curbing identity-related fraud and ensuring that official documents are held only by eligible citizens.
The Minister further assured that the government remains committed to strengthening border security systems while promoting seamless and lawful international travel for legitimate Nigerian citizens.
