By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to withdraw and deactivate passports issued to individuals who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Babatunde Alao, the directive applies specifically to persons whose renunciation requests have been duly approved and registered by the President.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the move aligns with Section 29 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines the legal framework for the renunciation of Nigerian citizenship.
He noted that once the President registers such a declaration, the individual officially ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria.
The Minister stressed that non-citizens are not entitled to hold Nigerian sovereign documents, including passports, describing the continued possession of such documents as a breach of national identity regulations.
“Once a person ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria, he can no longer carry any sovereign document of Nigeria, including the nation’s passport,” the Minister stated.
He added that the directive is a key component of ongoing passport and visa reforms implemented by the Ministry to enhance national security and administrative efficiency.
Tunji-Ojo further assured the public that the government remains committed to strengthening systems that protect Nigeria’s borders, curb identity fraud, and uphold the integrity of the citizenship framework, while simultaneously facilitating legitimate travel.