The Federal Government has directed the immediate withdrawal and deactivation of passports held by Nigerians who have formally renounced their citizenship.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who instructed the Nigeria Immigration Service to enforce the measure without delay.
According to a statement released through his media aide, the order applies strictly to individuals whose renunciation of Nigerian citizenship has been officially approved by the President, in line with constitutional provisions.
The minister explained that once a person ceases to be a citizen, they are no longer entitled to hold any national identification or travel document issued by the country. “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,” he said.
He noted that the directive is backed by Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the process and legal consequences of renouncing Nigerian citizenship.
The government said the move is part of broader efforts to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s citizenship system, curb identity-related abuses, and prevent the misuse of official travel documents.
Officials also indicated that the policy is intended to address gaps that previously allowed some former citizens to retain and use Nigerian passports even after completing the renunciation process.
The Nigeria Immigration Service is expected to begin implementing the directive by identifying affected individuals and deactivating their passports in its system.