The Federal Government has moved to tighten its grip on citizenship documentation, directing authorities to clamp down on individuals who retain Nigerian passports after formally renouncing their nationality.
In a fresh directive, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately withdraw and deactivate the passports of Nigerians who have officially renounced their citizenship but still hold the documents.
According to a statement released by the Ministry, the directive strictly applies to individuals whose renunciation of Nigerian citizenship has been duly approved by the President, in line with constitutional provisions.
Citing Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Minister emphasised that once a person ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria, they automatically lose the legal right to possess any sovereign document of the country, including a Nigerian passport.
The statement further explained that the move is part of broader government efforts to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s citizenship system and curb potential abuses.
The Ministry noted that retaining a Nigerian passport after renouncing citizenship not only violates the law but also poses risks of identity fraud and unauthorised access to national privileges.
Tunji-Ojo reiterated that the government remains committed to strengthening border security and ensuring that only eligible individuals have access to official travel documents.
He added that ongoing reforms within the Ministry are aimed at enhancing the credibility of Nigeria’s passport system while facilitating legitimate travel for citizens.
The directive is expected to trigger compliance checks and enforcement actions by the Nigeria Immigration Service in the coming weeks, as authorities begin identifying affected individuals.
For many Nigerians in the diaspora, this development signals a stricter enforcement regime around citizenship status, reinforcing the legal boundaries between nationality and access to government-issued identification.
