The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service to begin the immediate deactivation and withdrawal of passports belonging to individuals who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship.
This directive was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Babatunde Alao.
According to Mr Tunji-Ojo, the order affects Nigerians whose applications for renunciation have received approval from President Bola Tinubu. He referenced Section 29(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), noting that once the President registers a renunciation declaration, the individual officially forfeits Nigerian citizenship.
“Once a person ceases to be a citizen, they can no longer hold sovereign documents like the Nigerian passport,” the minister stated.
He added that the directive is part of broader reforms targeting improvements in passport and visa systems, with a focus on strengthening border security and curbing fraudulent activities.
“We are committed to securing Nigeria’s borders and ensuring only eligible citizens hold travel documents,” Mr Tunji-Ojo said.
