JUST IN: FG Orders Withdrawal Of Passports From Nigerians Who Renounce Citizenship
The Federal Government has ordered the immediate withdrawal and deactivation of Nigerian passports from individuals who have officially renounced their citizenship.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who instructed the Nigeria Immigration Service to enforce the move without delay.
According to the Minister, the decision applies strictly to persons whose renunciation requests have been formally approved by the President, in line with the provisions of Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He explained that once a person ceases to be a Nigerian citizen, they are no longer entitled to hold any sovereign document of the country, including a Nigerian passport.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the directive is part of ongoing reforms aimed at protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s citizenship system, preventing identity fraud, and strengthening border security.
The move is also linked to broader passport and visa reforms being implemented by the Ministry of Interior to ensure that only eligible individuals have access to Nigerian travel documents.
Authorities say the policy will help sanitize the system and uphold the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship, especially in an era of increasing global migration and dual nationality concerns.
