Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports belonging to Nigerians who have formally renounced their citizenship.
In a statement issued on Friday, the minister said the directive applies to individuals whose renunciation requests have been duly approved by the president.
Tunji-Ojo said the move is in line with the constitutional provisions governing citizenship, citing Section 29(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which stipulates that a Nigerian who renounces citizenship ceases to be a citizen upon registration of the declaration by the president.
He explained that once a person is no longer recognised as a Nigerian citizen, such an individual is not entitled to possess any sovereign document of the country, including a passport.
“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.
The minister noted that the directive forms part of ongoing passport and visa reforms by the ministry aimed at strengthening national identity management and border security.
“We will continue to strengthen systems that secure Nigeria’s borders, prevent identity fraud, preserve the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship, and facilitate legitimate travel while preventing unauthorised or ineligible access,” he added.
